Opinion ID: 2433485
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 25

Heading: Mother's Sterilization

Text: The evidence of Nicklasson's mother's sterilization was irrelevant to questions of Nicklasson's character, record or the circumstances of his offense. Lockett, 438 U.S. at 604, n. 12, 98 S.Ct. at 2964-65, n. 12. Nonetheless, it was presented to the jury through the testimony of defense witness Novak: Q: At some point did you and your mother go to a lawyer to see to it that [Nicklasson's mother] couldn't have any more children? A: Yes, I did. Q: And why did you do that? A: Because the men[Nicklasson's mother's] mental capacity was not up to taking care of a child. She had already abandoned one, abused the child, and now she was pregnant with another child.    Q: And was there, in fact, an order forcing that she be sterilized upon the birth of Mr. Nicklasson? A: Yes, there was. The jury also heard considerable evidence, from a number of sources, that Nicklasson's mother was unfit to parent.