Opinion ID: 2557847
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Grand Jury Indicted Jackson, A Jury Convicted Him, And A Judge Sentenced Him To Death.

Text: On April 27, 1992, the New Castle County grand jury indicted Jackson for first degree murder, second degree burglary, first degree robbery, three counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, second degree conspiracy, and felony murder. On July 6, 1992, Joseph Hurley formally entered his appearance as Jackson's attorney. On August 28, 1992, the Superior Court held a proof positive hearing at which Hurley represented Jackson. Then, on October 5, 1992, Hurley filed a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel, citing in his written motion the financial burden on Jackson's family of his continued representation of Jackson. On November 10, 1992, the Superior Court held a hearing on Hurley's Motion to Withdraw. The circumstances of this hearing, which we explain in greater detail below, are the central issue in this appeal. On November 11, 1992, the judge granted Hurley's motion, and on November 16, the judge appointed new counsel for Jackson. This same Superior Court judge presided over all pre-trial, trial, sentencing, and resentencing proceedings in this case, as well as the first Rule 61 postconviction proceeding. Beginning on March 16, 1993 the Superior Court held a nine day jury trial. At the conclusion of trial, the jury found Jackson guilty of all charges. On April 5, 1993, the Superior Court began a four day penalty hearing. At the conclusion of this penalty hearing, the jury unanimously found the existence of two statutory aggravating factors and recommended a death sentence by a margin of eleven to one. On April 28, 1993, the judge published his formal sentencing decision. In this opinion, the judge addressed independently the aggravating and mitigating factors pursuant to required statutory procedure. He concluded that the State had proven both statutory aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt and all twelve of its asserted non-statutory aggravating circumstances by credible and reliable evidence. He also found all eight of the defense's asserted mitigating factors by credible and reliable evidence. After weighing the aggravating factors against the mitigating factors, the judge imposed, among other sentences, one death sentence for each of Jackson's two murder convictions.