Opinion ID: 1435973
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Jury Instruction on Future Dangerousness

Text: At the penalty-phase charge conference, the trial court reviewed with counsel the instructions it intended to give the jury. Defense counsel specifically requested that the court instruct the jury on the model charge that directs the jury not to consider the defendant's future dangerousness in determining whether to impose a capital or non-capital penalty. Judges Bench Manual for Capital Causes, Appendix J-54 to -55. The court charged the jury in the very language endorsed by defense counsel: If any of you find that the State has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating factor or factors outweigh the mitigating factor or factors, or if you cannot reach a unanimous verdict on the question of punishment, then the punishment shall be imprisonment for the defendant.... You must not speculate as to the precise sentence. This defendant might receive from me between 30 years and life. You must not speculate as to whether or not this defendant would or would not be released after 30 years. As far as you are concerned if you have not decided upon death for the defendant, you must then assume that his possible future release would not endanger society.