Opinion ID: 1847325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: the trial judge's instructions improperly led jurors to believe death was the appropriate sentence if aggravating and mitigating circumstances were in equipoise.

Text: ś 64. Jerome takes exception to the following language in sentencing instruction S-1: If you find from the evidence that one or more of the preceding elements of mitigation exists, then you must consider whether it (or they) outweigh(s) or overcome(s) the aggravating circumstance(s) you previously found. In the event that you find that the mitigating circumstance(s) do not outweigh or overcome the aggravating circumstance(s), you may impose the death sentence. Should you find that the mitigating circumstance(s) outweigh or overcome the aggravating circumstance(s), you shall not impose the death sentence. Jerome, citing White v. State, 322 Md. 738, 589 A.2d 969, 973 (Md.1991), People v. Young, 814 P.2d 834, 839 (Colo.1991), and Jackson v. Dugger, 837 F.2d 1469, 1473-74 (11th Cir.1988), argues that this language improperly created a presumption in favor of death, in that a death sentence would result if the jurors found the aggravating and mitigating factors to be in equipoise. ś 65. The State argues another procedural bar because Jerome failed to bring the issue before the trial court. Such a procedural bar is supported by the record. A trial judge will not be found in error on a matter not presented to him for decision. Jones v. State, 606 So.2d 1051, 1058 (Miss.1992) (citing Crenshaw v. State, 520 So.2d 131, 134 (Miss.1988)). See also Ballenger, 667 So.2d at 1259; Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1270 (Miss.1994); Mitchell v. State, 609 So.2d 416, 422 (Miss.1992). ś 66. Not only is this issue procedurally barred, it is without merit as well, as identical arguments have been consistently rejected by this Court. In Davis v. State, 660 So.2d 1228 (Miss.1995), the Court held: Davis' second contention is foreclosed by this Court's recent decision in Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239 (Miss.1993); cert. denied, ..., 513 U.S. 927, 115 S.Ct. 314, 130 L.Ed.2d 276 (1994). Conner, like Davis, argued that a proper instruction would permit imposition of the death penalty only where the jury finds that aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances, not vice versa. Conner, 632 So.2d at 1278. See also Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887, 904 (Miss.1989), rev'd on other grounds, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313, 112 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990); Jordan v. State, 365 So.2d 1198, 1206 (Miss.1978), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 885, 100 S.Ct. 175, 62 L.Ed.2d 114 (1979); Gray v. Lucas, 677 F.2d 1086, 1105-06 (5th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 910, 103 S.Ct. 1886, 76 L.Ed.2d 815 (1983). We rejected this argument in Conner, and today, we find no reason to vary from our holding in Conner. Accordingly, Davis merits no relief on this issue. Davis, 660 So.2d at 1245. See also Doss v. State, No. 93-DP-00509-SCT, 709 So.2d 369, 1997 WL 770606 (Miss. Dec.15, 1997) (Identical language complained about here found to be acceptable.) ś 67. The sentencing instruction complained of in the case at bar does not create a presumption of death nor does it require the sentencing jury to return a verdict of death if mitigating and aggravating factor are equipoise. This Court finds this issue lacking merit.