Task: songer_mootness

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. You will be asked a question pertaining to some threshold issue at the trial court level. These issues are only considered to be present if the court of appeals is reviewing whether or not the litigants should properly have been allowed to get a trial court decision on the merits. That is, the issue is whether or not the issue crossed properly the threshhold to get on the district court agenda. The issue is: "Did the court conclude that an issue was moot?" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed".

PER CURIAM:
The panel hereby grants rehearing, although on grounds other than those urged by petitioner Lusk. The panel readopts all parts of its opinion dated June 22, 1992, reported at 965 F.2d 946 (11th Cir.1992), except for Part C; Part C is withdrawn, and what follows is substituted for Part C. The petition for panel rehearing is otherwise denied.
C. Sentencing Court’s Refusal to Consider Mitigating Evidence
Lusk claims that the trial court refused to consider and give effect to mitigating evidence. Specifically, he points to the court’s statement that “[t]he law of this State does not permit this Court to extend mercy to this Defendant or others convicted of a capital felony.” Appendix at 595. Lusk argues that the statement reflected the court’s general unwillingness to recognize and consider nonstatutory mitigating circumstances. Appellant’s Brief at 32. We disagree.
The trial court’s remarks during sentencing reveal that it was willing to consider both statutory and nonstatutory mitigating circumstances.
There are no mitigating circumstances either those prescribed by statute or otherwise.
There are no mitigating circumstances and the aggravating circumstances are clear, abundant, and convincing, which compel a finding and determination by this Court that there are insufficient mitigating circumstances to outweigh the aggravating circumstances.
The Court has not limited its consideration of mitigating circumstances to only those prescribed by statute, but has limited its consideration of aggravating circumstances to those specified in Section 921.141, Florida Statutes.
Appendix at 593-94 (emphasis added). Given these statements, we conclude that the trial court acted in accordance with Florida’s established practice of considering both statutory and nonstatutory mitigating circumstances. As the Florida Supreme Court has stated, “[w]e have long recognized that the failure to consider nonstatu-tory mitigating circumstances by a judge or jury is grounds for reversal.” Porter v. Dugger, 559 So.2d 201, 204 (Fla.1990). We also note Lusk does not claim that he was in any way limited as to the nonstatutory mitigating evidence which he was allowed to introduce during the sentencing phase.

Question: Did the court conclude that an issue was moot?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Mixed answer
D. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: D