Opinion ID: 2637623
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Refusal to Give Mercy Instruction

Text: Defendant asked the trial court to instruct the jury that [i]n determining whether to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment without possibility of parole, or to death, you may decide to exercise mercy on behalf of the defendant. The trial court refused, and defendant contends its refusal violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution and warrants the reversal of his judgment of death. We have, however, rejected this contention in the past (see, e.g., People v. Lewis (2001) 26 Cal.4th 334, 393, 110 Cal. Rptr.2d 272, 28 P.3d 34), and defendant offers nothing to compel our reconsideration of these prior rulings. In any event, the rejected instruction was cumulative. [18] (See Lewis, at p. 393 [holding that CALJIC No. 8.85 adequately covers the mercy instruction].) Accordingly, defendant's contention is meritless.