Opinion ID: 1621755
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 32

Heading: modifier extreme

Text: The appellant first contends that the jury instructions precluded the jury from considering mitigating evidence of mental or emotional disturbance which did not rise to the level of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. In its jury instructions, the trial court recited the language of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-2-203(j)(2) in instructing the jury that in arriving at the punishment the jury shall consider the mitigating factors including, but not limited to that [t]he murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. The appellant contends that use of the modifier extreme misled the jury in its consideration of the evidence. The Tennessee Supreme Court rejected this same argument in State v. Smith, 857 S.W.2d 1, 16-17 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 996, 114 S.Ct. 561, 126 L.Ed.2d 461 (1993). Moreover, in the case at bar, the jury was also instructed that it could consider any mitigating factor raised by the evidence at either the guilt or penalty phase of the trial. This issue is without merit.