Opinion ID: 1298321
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: is arizona's death penalty statute unconstitutional because inadequate standards are utilized by trial courts in balancing aggravating circumstances against mitigating circumstances?

Text: Defendant contends that in Arizona, the death penalty is imposed wantonly, aribitrarily and freakishly because no ascertainable standards are provided for the sentencing authority to measure the relative weights to be given the aggravating and mitigating factors which have been found to exist. This contention has been rejected numerous times by this court. See generally, State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 53-54, 659 P.2d 1, 12-13, cert. denied, Gretzler v. Arizona, 461 U.S. 971, 103 S.Ct. 2444, 77 L.Ed.2d 1327 (1983); State v. Greenawalt, 128 Ariz. 150, 175, 624 P.2d 828, 853, cert. denied, Greenawalt v. Arizona, 454 U.S. 882, 102 S.Ct. 364, 70 L.Ed.2d 191 (1981); State v. Mata, 125 Ariz. 233, 241-42, 609 P.2d 48, 56-57, cert. denied, Mata v. Arizona, 449 U.S. 938, 101 S.Ct. 338, 66 L.Ed.2d 161 (1980). We find no error.