Opinion ID: 1907203
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Supreme Court's Appellate Review Function

Text: Comparing a death-sentenced defendant's case to other similar cases enables us to consider whether the death penalty has been imposed arbitrarily on the defendant. Moreover, proportionality review may be the only mechanism that permits system-wide evaluation of both prosecutorial and jury decision making so as to determine whether there has been racial or other impermissible discrimination. These considerations weigh heavily when a life is at stake. It is a mark of our humanity that, no matter how heinous the crime, we focus, finally, on individual defendants, their acts and their lives. We seek to administer the most extreme penalty in a fair and consistent manner by comparing the defendant to others who have committed like crimes, thereby to decide whether there is a societal consensus that the defendant before us should be put to death. In our constitutional system, this Court is entrusted with that ultimate decision. The source of the Supreme Court's appellate review authority can be found in Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the 1947 Constitution: The Supreme Court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction in the last resort in all causes provided in this Constitution. As defined by Article VI, Section 5, Paragraph 1, the Court hears appeals: (a) In causes determined by the appellate division of the Superior Court involving a question arising under the Constitution of the United States or this State; (b) In causes where there is a dissent in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court; (c) In capital causes; (d) On certification by the Supreme Court to the Superior Court and, where provided by rules of the Supreme Court, to the inferior courts; and (e) In such causes as may be provided by law.