Opinion ID: 2632884
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Equal Protection Violation Stemming from Denial of Procedural Protections to Capital Defendants

Text: Defendant next contends that, even if the absence of the foregoing procedural protections does not render the state's death penalty procedures unconstitutional, providing some of those protections (e.g., disparate sentence review, written findings, unanimous jury agreement on aggravating factors or commission of violent crimes) to noncapital defendants denies equal protection to those facing the death penalty. We have rejected similar arguments in prior cases. (E.g., People v. Brown (2004) 33 Cal.4th 382, 402, 15 Cal. Rptr.3d 624, 93 P.3d 244 [disparate sentence review]; People v. Jenkins (2000) 22 Cal.4th 900, 1053, 95 Cal.Rptr.2d 377, 997 P.2d 1044 [same].)