Opinion ID: 1389650
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: constitutionality of the mandatory life sentence under rcw 10.95

Text: RCW 10.95.030(1) provides for a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in noncapital aggravated murder cases. Defendant contends that this sentence violates due process, arguing that he must be afforded a sentencing hearing at which he could present evidence that might mitigate or substantiate the life sentence. From this, he appears to argue that the jury must have discretion to reduce the mandatory life sentence. [13] Defendant concedes that the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole for aggravated first degree murder does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. See State v. Grisby, 97 Wn.2d 493, 497-98, 647 P.2d 6 (1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1211, 75 L.Ed.2d 446, 103 S.Ct. 1205 (1983). His concession, however, necessarily yields the argument. The assertion that he must be afforded a mitigating sentencing hearing is plausible only if the Legislature cannot require the mandatory sentence. If the mandatory sentence is valid, the lack of jury discretion is valid. Accordingly, a sentencing hearing before a jury could serve no purpose. Although defendant suggests that a mandatory sentence imposed without a mitigating hearing rise[s] to the level of cruel and unusual punishment, he cites no authority to support that proposition. The State suggests that defendant's real argument is that the parole board has been invalidly denied discretion to grant parole. Parole is clearly a matter of executive grace. State v. Fain, 94 Wn.2d 387, 394, 617 P.2d 720 (1980). Defendant has no right to have his sentence mitigated by possible parole. Defendant also argues that the statute violates equal protection by giving the prosecutor unfettered discretion to charge either of two crimes (capital or noncapital aggravated murder), although either charge would necessarily be based on the same evidence. He further asserts this gives the prosecutor unconstitutional power to decide a defendant's sentence. [14] It has long been the rule in Washington that equal protection is violated when two statutes declare the same acts to be crimes, but penalize more severely under one statute than the other. State v. Sherman, 98 Wn.2d 53, 653 P.2d 612 (1982); State v. Zornes, 78 Wn.2d 9, 475 P.2d 109 (1970). There is no equal protection issue, however, when the requirements of proof and the State's ability to meet them are the considerations guiding the prosecutor's discretion. State v. Canady, 69 Wn.2d 886, 421 P.2d 347 (1966). Under RCW 10.95.040(1) the prosecutor must file a notice of a special sentencing proceeding to determine whether the death penalty is to be imposed when there is reason to believe that there are not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency. The prosecutor's discretion to seek or not seek the death penalty depends on an evaluation of the evidence of mitigating circumstances. This evaluation must determine if sufficient evidence exists to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that there are not sufficient mitigating circumstances. See RCW 10.95.060(4). Although the exercise of prosecutorial discretion under the sentencing structure of RCW 10.95 is not strictly analogous to the exercise of discretion involved in the charging function, the principle is similar. The prosecutor does not determine the sentence; the prosecutor merely determines whether sufficient evidence exists to take the issue of mitigation to the jury. This type of discretion does not violate equal protection. See State v. Sherman, supra .