Opinion ID: 1196295
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Miscellaneous Constitutional Challenges to 1978 Death Penalty Statute

Text: In summary fashion and without critical analysis, defendant raises several challenges to the validity of the 1978 death penalty statute under the federal and state Constitutions. We have consistently rejected each of these arguments and do so again. (See People v. Allison (1989) 48 Cal.3d 879, 899 [258 Cal. Rptr. 208, 771 P.2d 1294].) (55) No constitutional imperative requires written findings or jury unanimity as to aggravating circumstances, proof beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravating circumstances, or proof beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating factors outweigh those in mitigation or that death is the appropriate penalty. ( People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 1285; People v. Rodriguez, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 777-779; see People v. Robertson, supra, 48 Cal.3d at p. 58; People v. Bonin, supra, 47 Cal.3d at p. 857; People v. Belmontes, supra, 45 Cal.3d at p. 805; People v. Thompson, supra, 45 Cal.3d at pp. 135-136.) We have also declined to mandate jury unanimity as to prior criminal activity. ( People v. Caro, supra, 46 Cal.3d at p. 1057.) Finally, the United States Supreme Court has found no deficiency in the method or scope of appellate review utilized in California death penalty cases. (See, e.g., Pulley v. Harris, supra, 465 U.S. at pp. 49, 51-53 [79 L.Ed.2d at pp. 440-442].)