Opinion ID: 704024
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: McKenna's Autobiography

Text: 33 At the penalty phase of his trial, McKenna sought to reopen his case and introduce the first six chapters of his autobiography as mitigating evidence. Although we hold that McKenna's sentence of death cannot be upheld unless it is done in a resentencing proceeding that eliminates consideration of the invalid aggravating factor, this issue remains pertinent in the event the Nevada Supreme Court engages in a reweighing process. 34 McKenna claimed the autobiography would show: 1) his difficult childhood; 2) his negative experiences with juvenile corrections authorities; and 3) his ability to contribute to society as a writer. The trial court refused to admit the biography. On direct appeal, the Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision. McKenna, 705 P.2d at 620-21. McKenna asserts that these decisions violated his Eighth Amendment right to individualized sentencing. 35 The Supreme court stated in Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 110, 102 S.Ct. 869, 874, 71 L.Ed.2d 1 (1982) that in considering the death penalty,  'the sentencer [may] not be precluded from considering, as a mitigating factor, any aspect of a defendant's character or record and any of the circumstances of the offense that the defendant proffers as a basis for a sentence less than death.'  (quoting Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 604, 98 S.Ct. 2954, 2964-65, 57 L.Ed.2d 973 (1978) (emphasis in original)). Although a defendant is entitled to present this substantive evidence, this does not entitle the defendant to present it through any means he chooses. McKenna was certainly entitled to present evidence of his difficult childhood, his negative experiences with juvenile authorities, and his writing ability through his own testimony and that of other witnesses. This does not mean it was constitutional error not to allow him to do so through his own written autobiography. McKenna did not choose to testify as to these facts, although he was not precluded from doing so. Other witnesses appearing on his behalf testified as to the substance of the facts contained in the autobiography, and the State conceded his writing ability. The autobiography, itself, would have been cumulative. Its exclusion from the hearing was not constitutional error and was not prejudicial.