Document: 486 U.S. 578 108 S.Ct. 1981 100 L.Ed.2d 575 Samuel Bice JOHNSON, Petitionerv.MISSISSIPPI. No. 87-5468. Argued April 25, 1988. Decided June 13, Syllabus Petitioner was convicted in a Mississippi court of murder. Finding the existence three aggravating circumstances and that such outweighed mitigating circumstances, jury sentenced petitioner to death. The sole evidence supporting one circumstances—that had been "previously felony involving use or threat violence [another] person"—consisted an authenticated copy his commitment prison 1963 following New York conviction second-degree assault with intent commit first-degree rape. prosecutor repeatedly referred document at sentencing hearing. After Supreme Court affirmed petitioner's death sentence, Appeals reversed conviction. However, denied motion for postconviction relief from arguing, inter alia, (1) waived right challenge by not raising point on direct appeal sentence; (2) Mississippi's capital procedures could be rendered capricious standardless if postsentencing decision another State invalidate (3) provided adequate support penalty even it invalid, since served time Held: By allowing sentence stand despite fact based part vacated conviction, violated Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel unusual punishment. Pp. 584-590. (a) did provide any legitimate sentence. Its reversal deprives prosecutor's piece as circumstance relevance decision. pursuant invalid does make itself relevant, prove guilty crime. Furthermore, hearing clearly prejudicial urged give weight connection its assigned task balancing "one other." 585-586. (b) state court's concern vacatur here would render is unfounded. That has held Kentucky enhanced under habitual criminal statute justified relief. Phillips v. State, 421 So.2d 476. A rule regularly gives defendant benefit arguably arbitrary and, fact, reduces risk will imposed arbitrarily. 586-587. (c) conclusion failure raise claim constitutes procedural bar law prevent this considering claim. Under federal law, can constitute independent ground affirming only consistently applied. raised so applied Mississippi. In supra, collateral attack rather than appropriate means challenging prior used enhance offender's recently reasoning facts substantially similar those presented case. See Nixon 533 1078 (Miss.1987). 587-589. (d) State's argument below should because mention when conducted proportionality review without merit might consistent absent determinative here. error extended beyond mere invalidation supported otherwise admissible allowed consider revealed materially inaccurate. Moreover, express refusal rely harmless-error analysis upholding plainly 589-590. 511 1333, remanded. STEVENS, J., delivered opinion Court, which REHNQUIST, C.J., BRENNAN, WHITE, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, SCALIA, KENNEDY, JJ., joined. filed concurring opinion, joined, post, p. ----. O'CONNOR, concurred judgment. Floyd Abrams, City, petitioner. Marvin L. White, Jr., Jackson, Miss., respondent. Justice STEVENS Court. 1 1982, murder predicated, part, 1963. thereafter unsuccessfully sought question us whether correct concluding affect validity 2 * On December 31, 1981, companions were stopped speeding highway patrolman. While officer searching car, stabbed him ensuing struggle, obtained officer's gun kill him. apprehended, tried murder, At hearing, found circumstances,1 which, matter have sufficient weighing other," "that do outweigh Defendant suffer death." 13 Record 2290, 2294; App. 32. Johnson 477 196 (1985), we certiorari, 476 1109, 106 1958, 90 366 (1986). 3 person another" consisted Elmira Reception Center Monroe County, York, crime 8-9. stating many words: "I say having second degree first rape die." 2276; 23.2 4 Prior trial 1963, police incriminating statement Despite objection confession coerced, admitted into issue voluntariness. after convicted, he never informed appeal. He made efforts assistance counsel, each rejected untimely. however, attorneys successfully prosecuted proceeding they persuaded County unconstitutionally deprived then entered new order able take proceeding, conviction.3 People Johnson, 69 N.Y.2d 339, 506 N.E.2d 1177 (1987). 5 seeking circumstance. before concluded, but supplemented prompt notification favorable action taken Appeals. Nevertheless, over dissent justices, motion. 1333 6 majority four apparently interdependent arguments. First, stated appeal.4 Second, expressed become effect invalidating Id., 1338. Third, questioned proceedings "truly adversarial." 1338-1339. Finally, concluded stating: 7 "The remains serious female imprisoned state. No paid debt If enough final serve penal institution, finality considered verdict upon need vitiated subsequent granted more twenty years later Appeals." 1339. 8 reaching conclusion, expressly disavowed reliance two turn 1338; see, n. 8, infra.5 9 We certiorari Federal Constitution requires reexamination 484 1003, 693, 98 646 (1988). conclude does. II 10 fundamental respect humanity underlying punishment rise special " 'need reliability determination punishment' Gardner Florida, 430 349, 363-364, 97 1197, 1207-1208, 51 393 (1977) (WHITE, judgment)(quoting Woodson North Carolina, 428 280, 305, 96 2978, 2991-92, 49 944 (1976)). Although acknowledged "there 'no perfect procedure deciding cases governmental authority impose death,' also clear decisions cannot predicated "caprice" "factors are constitutionally impermissible totally irrelevant process." Zant Stephens, 462 862, 884-885, 887, 24, 103 2733, 2747, 2748, 77 235 (1983). case although violates principle.6 11 drew no distinction between conduct gave introduce concerning alleged itself; relating establishing offense Since reversed, unless until retried, must presumed innocent charge. Indeed, presumption, documentary 12 Contrary relevant possible charge significance describing conduct—the submitted proved confinement, nothing more. proof offense; indeed, perverse treat imposition It apparent equally prejudicial. 2270; 17; see 2282-2287; 26-30. Even argument, there possibility jury's belief "decisive" "choice life sentence." U.S., 359, S.Ct., 1205 (plurality opinion). 14 share Court's vacate set aside. problem frequently arisen Mississippi, well other States, sentences criminals. Thus, (Miss.1982), basis capricious. Cf. United States Tucker, 404 443, 92 589, 30 592 (1972); Townsend Burke, 334 736, 68 1252, L.Ed. 1690 (1948). To contrary, especially context sentencing, 15 procedurally barred failed bars our consideration brief Because asserted decision, provides "[W]e how defaults compliance rules preclude question." Henry 379 447 [85 564, 567, 408] (1965). "[A] 'adequate' 'strictly followed.' Barr City Columbia, 378 146, 149 [84 1734, 1736, 766] (1964)." Hathorn Lovorn, 457 255, 262-263, 102 2421, 2426-2427, 72 824 (1982); 447-448, 85 567-568. find relied Rather, contrary. properly forum attack: 16 "[T]he required go face convictions defendant's status offender. If, face, makes proper showing plea both knowing voluntary, may enhancement offender act. 17 18 "[A]ny frontal constitutionality form entirely separate solely concerned attacking This role neither function nor duty judge determine status. Likewise, brought occurred, state's established procedures. Should foreign succeed overturning petition writ coram nobis." 481-482. 19 suggests concomitant appears valid. directing attention suggest previously inappropriate attack. 20 (1987), introduced finding sentencing. light Nixon, Consequently, conviction.7 21 advances affirmance argues initial appeal, Whether true, respondent argues, practice cases, refused So. 2d, case, justified.8 importantly, admissible. Here inaccurate.9 22 Accordingly, judgment remanded further inconsistent opinion. 23 ordered. 24 O'CONNOR concurs 25 whom MARSHALL joins, concurring. 26 I join except insofar judgment, prejudice proceedings, reimposition penalty. Adhering my view all prohibited Fourteenth Amendments, Gregg Georgia, 153, 227, 2909, 2950, 859 (1976), resentencing circumscribed reimpose 27 CHIEF JUSTICE 28 agreeing stand, given introduction inadmissible jury. evidence, present, note left decide reference thus undertaking reweigh untainted circumstances. Cabana Bullock, 474 376, 689, 88 704 circumstances: "(1) defendant, another. "(2) committed purpose avoiding arrest effecting escape custody. "(3) heinous, atrocious cruel." 2289, 1337 Petitioner's version described affidavit follows: "3. good recollection second. Charles Taylor brother's loaned me, early morning hours February 9, picked up Malcena Doss she leaving car. prostitute. sex her told money pay got angry. She took down number car attacked her. didn't her." 136-137 (affidavit conviction). determined "timely" "unusual [petitioner's] case." N.Y.2d, 341, N.E.2d, 1178. pointed out actions earlier appeal: "It undisputed advised that, discovering right, several timely diligent pro se attempts obtain through avenues available time. Further, prevented ever obtaining entitled." Ibid. Relying concessions "records [had] lost, reconstruction [was] [that had] appealable issues merit." 342, "the remedy . dismissal indictment." 96-97. stated: claim, barred. during argue invalid. steps petition. [n]one [of assignments error] Evans 485 276 (Miss.1986), 280-281." So.2d, 1337. Three justices dissented. logic "no way ascertaining confidence significant factor [petitioner] death," dissenters 'aggravating' vacated," [is] entitled 1344-1345 (Robertson, dissenting). They criticized giving "less full faith credit," refusing themselves "indulge cynical assumption less ordered vacated." 1343-1344. majority's invocation bar, asserting acted courts 1343. skeptical treatment Appeals' Full Faith Credit Clause Constitution. expression about adversarial character address credit understand most events, record now valid now, citation 276, 280-281 4, urges invoked distinct Nixon. focused delay read much Evans. Evans, ineffective counsel nobis. merely enforcing Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1) (Supp.1987), "[f]ailure prisoner objections, defenses, claims, questions, errors either capable and/or regardless laws shall waiver thereof ." 280. simply supports reading hold previous Our dissent, reflects understanding discussion. criticizing engaging "recent illicit romance bars," 1343 dissenting), exclusively inconsistency holding "As noted, existed, little doubt rational process carry greater determining Johnson's remoteness 196, 219 (1985). "We eschew 'harmless error' reasoning, district attorney argued particular reason [Ibid.]" transcript fully dissent's "vigorously" imposing 1342; 2271-2287; 2. (1983), not, Georgia's scheme, require vacation holding, specifically adduced nonetheless 2748.

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