Document: 464 U.S. 109 104 S.Ct. 450 78 L.Ed.2d 210 Robert Austin SULLIVANv.Louie L. WAINWRIGHT, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections, et al.No. A-409. Nov. 29, 1983. PER CURIAM. 1 Applicant was sentenced to death in November 1973 for the murder manager a restaurant he had robbed. His conviction and sentence were affirmed by Supreme Court this denied certiorari. Sullivan v. State, 303 So.2d 632 (Fla.1974), cert. denied, 428 911, 96 3226, 49 1220 (1976). After exhausting state post-conviction remedies, 372 938 (Fla.1979), applicant filed his first habeas petition 1979.1 The District held an evidentiary hearing writ. Eleventh Circuit affirmed, Wainwright, 695 F.2d 1306 (CA11 1983), --- ----, 290, 77 ---- (1983). In October 1983, second relief court. denial that on appeal, (Fla. 21, writ corpus federal Following hearing, declined issue writ, refused stay execution or certificate probable cause appeal. with one judge dissenting part. That court issued temporary order allow vote applicant's suggestion rehearing en banc. lifted when denied.2 2 This application pending completion presented Justice POWELL as 28, Counsel requested papers be treated filing certiorari under 28 U.S.C. § 2101(f), referred Court. 3 raises essentially five claims: (i) right counsel; (ii) effective assistance (iii) jury convicted him biased favor prosecution; (iv) proportionality review; (v) penalty statute has been applied discriminatorily against blacks. 4 three these claims have several times previously both courts found meritless. Applicant's claim entitled review addressed meritless Id., at ----. case earliest decided Florida's current statute. supreme used it reference point, comparing all subsequent capital cases ensure proportionality. It therefore cannot alleged State failed compare others Whatever our decision Pulley Harris, 103 1425, 75 787 (cert. granted may be, will not disturb Court's ruling. 5 apparently raised discriminatory supplement most recent petition, which 15, applicant, who is white, present voluminous statistics they say support sentence. Although some are relatively new, many studies conducted years ago available long before petitions. considered data determined written opinions insufficient show system unconstitutionally discriminatory. On basis record Court, we find there no disagreeing their decisions.3 litigation full decade, repetitive careful reviews courts, There must come end process consideration reconsideration. We recognize, course, do other qualitatively different from sentences, special care exercised judicial review. 6 denied. 7 THE CHIEF JUSTICE, concurring. 8 joining per curiam opinion I emphasize ten here fourth time. alone demonstrates speciousness "rush judgment." argument so often advanced dissenters punishment cruel unusual dwarfed cruelty row inflicted upon guilty defendant lawyers seeking turn administration justice into sporting contest Roscoe Pound denounced three-quarters century ago. 9 Justices WHITE STEVENS concur stay. 10 BRENNAN, whom MARSHALL joins, dissenting. 11 * Adhering my view circumstances prohibited Eighth Fourteenth Amendments, Gregg Georgia, 153, 227, 2909, 2950, 859 (1976) (BRENNAN, J., dissenting), would grant Sullivan. II 12 Even if accepted prevailing constitutionally imposed certain circumstances, because substantial concerning constitutionality particular, alleges violates Equal Protection Clause discriminates defendants solely race victims. For support, proffered numerous scholarly studies, yet published, provide statistical evidence substantiate claim. avoided ruling similar past, continues avoid its tonight, clearly deserving further consideration. Indeed, Appeals recognized case, "the merits allegation assessed without more detailed proffered" "is matter law." Spencer Zant, 715 1562, 1578-1583 1983). See Townsend Sain, 293, 83 745, 770 (1963). 13 see reason depart sensible approach case. fact, only twenty-four hours examine exhibits Sullivan's behalf. haste proceeded means received thoughtful entitled, but also once again rushed judgment, eager reach fatal conclusion. 14 dissent. addition, plaintiff action attacking executive clemency procedure. Askew, 348 312 (Fla.1977), 434 878, 98 232, 54 159 (1977). least than one, twice Judge Anderson dissented below ground equal quality those respect Georgia's companion Ross Hopper, 716 1528, 1539 remanded hearing. lower well opportunity consider statistics. Spencer, "unlikely district could adequately analyzed [statistical] insofar then except live testimony." 1582. evidence. identically consolidated Ross, supra, 1539.

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