Opinion ID: 2076678
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: whether the prosecution was properly allowed an opening and rebuttal closing argument at stage two of the sentencing hearing

Text: Defendant argues that he was denied a fair sentencing hearing because the trial judge allowed the prosecution to present an opening and rebuttal closing argument at stage two of the sentencing hearing even though the prosecution did not have a burden of proof at that stage. The State argues that while it is true that it did not have a burden of proof at stage two, neither party had the burden of proof. The prosecution asserts, however, that as the moving party it was trying to establish that there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of the death penalty. Because the State was the moving party, it asserts, it was properly allowed rebuttal which would enable it to make a final comment on the defenses raised. The moving party, the State argues, cannot anticipate every defense or answer to its motion and should, therefore, be allowed to respond to new matters raised therein. At stage two, the jury must make the determination that there are no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of the sentence of death. The State was trying to show, since it was the moving party, that the defendant should receive the sentence of death because there were no sufficient factors in mitigation to preclude imposition of that sentence. The State was properly given an original and rebuttal closing argument because, contrary to defendant's assertion, the State was bearing the affirmative of the issue, to show that the death penalty should be imposed.