Opinion ID: 1202924
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Argument of Prosecuting Attorney as to Meaning of Life Imprisonment without Possibility of Parole and Legislative Abolition of Death Penalty

Text: [11] Defendant asserts that it was prejudicial error for the deputy district attorney to have stated both in his voir dire examination of the jury and his closing argument that a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole would not necessarily mean that defendant would remain in prison for the remainder of his life. He pointed out that any such sentence could be commuted by the Governor, that a pardon could be granted by the Governor, or that the Legislature might enact a law changing the sentence. In People v. Chessman, 38 Cal.2d 166, 189-190 [238 P.2d 1001], the identical remarks, both in the argument by the prosecutor and the explanatory instructions by the court, were sanctioned insofar as they were addressed to the discretion of the jury in specifying the punishment for kidnaping for the purpose of robbery where the victim suffered bodily harm. (See also People v. Reese, 47 Cal.2d 112, 116-117 [301 P.2d 582]; People v. Jensen, 43 Cal.2d 572, 580-581 [275 P.2d 25]; People v. Byrd, supra, 42 Cal.2d 200, 206-208.) When the deputy district attorney's remarks are read in full, it is quite apparent that they could only have been taken by the jurors as factors to be considered in assessing the penalty. The case of People v. Morlock, 46 Cal.2d 141, 147-148 [292 P.2d 897], relied upon by defendant, is clearly distinguishable. There, the prosecutor erroneously stated that a person sentenced to life imprisonment was eligible for parole within seven years rather than after having served seven years. Equally unavailing is People v. Caetano, 29 Cal.2d 616, 619-620 [177 P.2d 1], since the only comments there held improper were to the effect that paroles might be granted without regard to merit in order to provide space for incoming prisoners. [12] Defendant also maintains that the deputy district attorney's reference to the Legislature's consideration of a bill proposing a moratorium on the death penalty may have harmed him by leading the jurors to believe that he would benefit from such a suspension. However, the deputy district attorney made it abundantly clear that he did not believe that any such moratorium would be adopted. He merely used this to show how changes in penalties could be sought in amplication of his remarks on the uncertainties of a sentence to life imprisonment without parole.