Opinion ID: 1788387
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Closing Argument During Sentencing Phase

Text: ¶ 44. Jordan argues that counsel was deficient in failing to object to a statement made by the prosecutor in his closing argument. Jordan argues that the prosecutor informed the jury that they were not being asked to kill anybody, thus diminishing their responsibility for the imposition of a sentence of death in violation of Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320, 105 S.Ct. 2633, 86 L.Ed.2d 231 (1985). However, the complete statement made by the prosecutor was: You are not being asked to kill anybody. You are being asked to look at the evidence in this case. And if the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors, you are being asked to give a sentence that is authorized under the law, a sentence that the State of Mississippi recognizes and authorizes you to give. This comment was in response to defense counsel's statements made during closing argument. Counsel stated that the jury had Jordan's life in their hands and that the jury had the awful job of deciding whether this man is so beyond redemption that he should be eliminated from the human community. Counsel further argued that: You know, we have always had, all of us have always had to come to grips with killing somebody. You and I could be driving down the road and a dog runs out in front of us. And you know what we do? We go to great lengths to dodge that dog to try and avoid running over it. I suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, that in our world and in our society, executing someone is intentionally doing what I just said. ¶ 45. The comments made by the prosecutor are not in violation of Caldwell. In fact, these appropriate statements made during the State's closing arguments in the sentencing phase of Jordan's trial pales in comparison to the prosecutor's statements made during the closing arguments in Bobby Caldwell's trial. [3] In Caldwell, defense counsel argued to the jury during the sentencing phase that life was precious and that the jury had an awesome responsibility in deciding whether Bobby Caldwell would live or die. In the State's rebuttal during closing arguments, the prosecutor sought to lessen in the minds of the jurors their solemn responsibility and role in this state's statutory capital sentencing scheme. The assistant district attorney argued, inter alia: ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Ladies and gentlemen, I intend to be brief. I'm in complete disagreement with the approach the defense has taken. I don't think it's fair. I think it's unfair. I think the lawyers know better. Now, they would have you believe that you're going to kill this man and they know  they know that your decision is not the final decision. My God, how unfair can you be? Your job is reviewable. They know it. Yet they .... COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT: Your Honor, I'm going to object to this statement. It's out of order. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Your Honor, throughout their argument, they said this panel was going to kill this man. I think that's terribly unfair. THE COURT: Alright, go on and make the full expression so the Jury will not be confused. I think it proper that the jury realizes that it is reviewable automatically as the death penalty commands. I think that information is now needed by the Jury so they will not be confused. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Throughout their remarks, they attempted to give you the opposite, sparing the truth. They said Thou shalt not kill. If that applies to him, it applies to you, insinuating that your decision is the final decision and that they're gonna take Bobby Caldwell out in front of this Courthouse in moments and string him up and that is terribly, terribly unfair. For they know, as I know, and as [the trial judge] has told you, that the decision you render is automatically reviewable by the Supreme Court. Automatically, and I think it's unfair and I don't mind telling them so. 472 U.S. at 325-26, 105 S.Ct. at 2637-38. ¶ 46. The United States Supreme Court vacated Caldwell's death sentence since the prosecutor had led the jury to believe that the responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the defendant's death rests elsewhere. 472 U.S. at 328-29, 105 S.Ct. at 2639. Obviously, under Mississippi's statutory capital sentencing scheme, notwithstanding the fact that a death sentence imposition will be reviewed by many judges, a capital defendant will be subjected to the death penalty only if so found by the jury. The judge alone can never impose the death penalty. See Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-103 (Rev.2000). ¶ 47. The objectionable comments by the prosecutor in Jordan's case are not comparable to those made by the prosecutor in Caldwell. This issue is without merit.