Opinion ID: 1926022
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Constitutionality of Maryland's Death Penalty Statute

Text: Appellant argues that Maryland's death penalty statute is unconstitutional. Specifically, he argues that the statute is unconstitutional because the statute (a) requires the defendant to prove mitigating circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence; (b) requires the defendant to establish that non-enumerated mitigating circumstances are mitigating circumstances; and (c) requires a sentence of death where aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances by only a preponderance of the evidence. We have addressed these claims over the years and have rejected them. See Conyers v. State (Conyers II), 354 Md. 132, 198-99, 729 A.2d 910, 945 (1999); Wiggins v. State, 324 Md. 551, 582-83, 597 A.2d 1359, 1374 (1991) (finding no merit in challenges to defendant's burden regarding statutorily recognized and other mitigating factors or to burden of proof). Appellant presents no arguments that persuade us to reconsider those earlier decisions.