Opinion ID: 1059552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: issues

Text: On appeal, Lovitt raises certain arguments that we have resolved in previous decisions. Since we find no reason to modify our previously expressed views, we reaffirm our earlier holdings and reject the following arguments: A. Imposition of the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia. Rejected in Johnson v. Commonwealth, 259 Va. 654, 667, 529 S.E.2d 769, 776 (2000); Yarbrough v. Commonwealth, 258 Va. 347, 360 n. 2, 519 S.E.2d 602, 607 n. 2 (1999); Goins v. Commonwealth, 251 Va. 442, 453, 470 S.E.2d 114, 122, cert. denied, 519 U.S. 887, 117 S.Ct. 222, 136 L.Ed.2d 154 (1996). B. The future dangerousness aggravating factor is unconstitutionally vague because (1) it requires jurors to reach a finding based on the confusing standard of a probability beyond a reasonable doubt; and (2) the failure to provide jury instructions regarding the meaning of the term future dangerousness violates the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia. Rejected in Johnson, 259 Va. at 667, 529 S.E.2d at 776; Walker, 258 Va. at 61, 515 S.E.2d at 569; Cherrix v. Commonwealth, 257 Va. 292, 299, 513 S.E.2d 642, 647, cert. denied, 528 U.S. 873, 120 S.Ct. 177, 145 L.Ed.2d 149 (1999); Williams v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 528, 536, 450 S.E.2d 365, 371 (1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1161, 115 S.Ct. 2616, 132 L.Ed.2d 858 (1995); Smith v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 455, 476-78, 248 S.E.2d 135, 148-49 (1978), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 967, 99 S.Ct. 2419, 60 L.Ed.2d 1074 (1979). C. The future dangerousness aggravating factor unconstitutionally permits consideration of unadjudicated conduct. Rejected in Johnson, 259 Va. at 667, 529 S.E.2d at 776; Cherrix, 257 Va. at 299, 513 S.E.2d at 647; Williams, 248 Va. at 536, 450 S.E.2d at 371. D. Virginia's penalty phase instructions do not adequately instruct the jury concerning mitigation. Rejected in Buchanan v. Angelone, 522 U.S. 269, 275-76, 118 S.Ct. 757, 139 L.Ed.2d 702 (1998); Yarbrough, 258 Va. at 360 n. 2, 519 S.E.2d at 607 n. 2; Cherrix, 257 Va. at 299, 513 S.E.2d at 647; Swann v. Commonwealth, 247 Va. 222, 228, 441 S.E.2d 195, 200, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 889, 115 S.Ct. 234, 130 L.Ed.2d 158 (1994). E. The post-verdict review of the death sentence by the trial court does not satisfy constitutional standards because the trial court may consider hearsay evidence contained in a pre-sentence report and is not required to set aside the death sentence upon a showing of good cause. Rejected in Johnson, 259 Va. at 667-68, 529 S.E.2d at 776; Walker, 258 Va. at 61, 515 S.E.2d at 569; Cherrix, 257 Va. at 299-300, 513 S.E.2d at 647; Breard v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 68, 76, 445 S.E.2d 670, 675-76, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 971, 115 S.Ct. 442, 130 L.Ed.2d 353 (1994). F. The trial court's refusal to permit the defendant to question prospective jurors individually during voir dire violates the defendant's constitutional right to a fair and impartial jury. Rejected in Cherrix, 257 Va. at 300, 513 S.E.2d at 647; Goins, 251 Va. at 453, 470 S.E.2d at 122; Swann, 247 Va. at 228, 441 S.E.2d at 200. G. The trial court's refusal to permit the defendant to make additional peremptory strikes as an added procedural safeguard in death penalty cases fails to ensure the defendant's constitutional rights. Rejected in Walker, 258 Va. at 64, 515 S.E.2d at 571; Clagett v. Commonwealth, 252 Va. 79, 85, 472 S.E.2d 263, 266-67 (1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 1122, 117 S.Ct. 972, 136 L.Ed.2d 856 (1997); Swann, 247 Va. at 227, 441 S.E.2d at 199. H. This Court's proportionality review in death penalty cases, as presently conducted, unconstitutionally denies defendants meaningful review because this Court fails to give appropriate consideration to cases in which sentences of life imprisonment are imposed. Rejected in Bailey v. Commonwealth, 259 Va. 723, 740-41, 529 S.E.2d 570, 580-81 (2000).