Opinion ID: 1155448
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Anti-sympathy Jury Instruction

Text: Part of Jury Instruction No. 12, which was given during the penalty phase, read: A verdict may never be influenced by sympathy, prejudice or public opinion. Your decision should be the product of sincere judgment and sound discretion in accordance with these rules of law. Powell argues that a reasonable juror could interpret the language as an instruction to discard mercy and compassion as well as the mitigating circumstances in sentencing him. Powell's contention is without merit. In Riley v. State, 107 Nev. 205, 808 P.2d 551 (1991), we stated, This court has previously ruled that it is not error to instruct the jury not to be influenced by sympathy if the court also instructs the jury to consider mitigating circumstances. Id. at 215, 808 P.2d at 557 (citations omitted). Here, the jury was instructed to consider mitigating circumstances. Based on our holding in Riley, it was not error to give this instruction.