Opinion ID: 2641468
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mercy in Murder Cases

Text: The defendant next argues that W.Va. Code § 62-3-15 [1994] is unconstitutional because it provides no guidance as to the factors that may be considered by a jury when deciding whether to recommend mercy at sentencing. The defendant’s arguments appear to hinge on his belief that the Legislature’s decision to not delineate specific standards–factors–that a jury should consider in murder cases might lead to arbitrary results (i.e., that two juries presented with the same evidence and facts might reach a different sentencing recommendation). The defendant’s arguments are unpersuasive, and are ones that this Court has previously addressed. In State v. Miller, 178 W.Va. 618, 621, 363 S.E.2d 504, 507 (1987) (citations omitted), we noted that in first degree murder cases, a “finding of guilt automatically results in a life sentence” and that the only issue on sentencing before a jury is whether the defendant should ever be eligible for parole. We then discussed at length the issue of whether a jury should be instructed on what it should–and should not–consider in reaching a decision on mercy. Our review in Miller included how courts in other jurisdictions have addressed similar issues. Based on that review, we held in Miller that “[a]n instruction outlining factors which a jury should consider in determining whether to grant mercy in a first degree murder case should not be given.” Id., at Syllabus Point 1. See also Syllabus Point 7, State v. Triplett, 187 W.Va. 760, 421 S.E.2d 511 (1992) (“The recommendation of 11 mercy in a first degree murder case lies solely in the discretion of the jury. Therefore, it would be improper for the trial court to set aside a jury verdict of first degree murder without a recommendation of mercy in order to give a recommendation of mercy.”). The defendant has given us no reason to revisit our findings and holding in Miller. Accordingly, we find this assignment of error to be without merit.