Opinion ID: 780969
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Instruct on Residual Doubt

Text: 139 Mason argues that he was denied due process by the trial court's refusal to give a proposed instruction on residual doubt. In Franklin v. Lynaugh, 487 U.S. 164, 108 S.Ct. 2320, 101 L.Ed.2d 155 (1988), a majority of the Supreme Court agreed that capital defendants do not have a constitutional right to demand jury consideration of residual doubt during the sentencing phase. Id. at 173 & n. 6, 108 S.Ct. 2320 (plurality opinion); id. at 187-88, 108 S.Ct. 2320 (O'Connor, J., concurring in the judgment); see also Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 320, 109 S.Ct. 2934, 106 L.Ed.2d 256 (1989). Because Supreme Court precedent clearly establishes that Mason cannot support his residual doubt argument, we deny habeas relief with respect to this claim. 140