Opinion ID: 1799201
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Constitutionality of death-penalty statute

Text: Mr. Greene asserts that the Trial Court erred when it refused to declare Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-603 (Repl.1997) unconstitutional. He argues that the statute is unconstitutional because it provides for the mandatory imposition of the death penalty and does not allow the jury to show mercy to a defendant. A plain reading of the statute shows Mr. Greene's argument to be erroneous. Section 5-4-603(a) indeed provides that the jury shall impose the death penalty but only if it returns the following three written findings: (1) Aggravating circumstances exist beyond a reasonable doubt; and (2) Aggravating circumstances outweigh beyond a reasonable doubt all mitigating circumstances found to exist; and (3) Aggravating circumstances justify a sentence of death beyond a reasonable doubt [emphasis added]. Section (b) of the statute directs the jury to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole if it finds that (1) Aggravating circumstances do not exist beyond a reasonable doubt; or (2) Aggravating circumstances do not outweigh beyond a reasonable doubt all mitigating circumstances found to exist; or (3) Aggravating circumstances do not justify a sentence of death beyond a reasonable doubt. Under subsection (c), the court must impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole if the jury fails to make all the findings required by subsection (a). Under subsection (a), the jury may show mercy simply by finding that the aggravating circumstances, even though they exist and outweigh the mitigating circumstances, do not justify imposition of the death sentence. We have made this observation in numerous cases and have repeatedly rejected the very argument Mr. Greene raises here. Jackson v. State, 330 Ark. 126, 131, 954 S.W.2d 894, 896 (1997); Nooner v. State, 322 Ark. 87, 106-07, 907 S.W.2d 677, 687 (1995). We affirm on this point.