Opinion ID: 1175284
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jury Input

Text: We have previously rejected defendant's claim that the Arizona death penalty is unconstitutional because the jury does not participate in sentencing, and we do so again. State v. Bracy, 145 Ariz. 520, 536, 703 P.2d 464, 480 (1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1110, 106 S.Ct. 898, 88 L.Ed.2d 932 (1986); State v. Poland, 144 Ariz. 388, 403, 698 P.2d 183, 188 (1985), aff'd, 476 U.S. 147, 106 S.Ct. 1749, 90 L.Ed.2d 123 (1986). The United States Supreme Court has recognized that jury sentencing in a capital case can perform an important societal function. Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 252, 96 S.Ct. 2960, 2966, 49 L.Ed.2d 913 (1976) (citing Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 519 n. 15, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 1775 n. 15, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968)). However, the Court has never suggested that jury sentencing is constitutionally required. Proffitt, 428 U.S. at 252, 96 S.Ct. at 2966. See also McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 107 S.Ct. 1756, 1773 n. 25, 95 L.Ed.2d 262 (1987); State v. Harding, 137 Ariz. 278, 293, 670 P.2d 383, 398 (1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1013, 104 S.Ct. 1017, 79 L.Ed.2d 246 (1984). We find no error.