Opinion ID: 1959682
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Constitutionality of Proportionality Scheme

Text: Johnson alleges that this Court's scheme of proportionality review does not comply with the requirement of section 565.035.3(3), RSMo 2000, and thus, his death sentences are unconstitutional and must be vacated. [9] This claim was rejected in Johnson II and in similar claims in several other cases. Johnson II, 22 S.W.3d at 193; State v. Johnson, 207 S.W.3d 24, 49-50 (Mo. banc 2006); Hutchison v. State, 150 S.W.3d 292, 301 (Mo. banc 2004); State v. Anderson, 79 S.W.3d 420, 444 (Mo. banc 2002). In addition, the Eighth Circuit has addressed this issue and held that both Missouri's proportionality scheme and the statute that sets forth the requirements for review are constitutional. See LaRette v. Delo, 44 F.3d 681, 688 (8th Cir.1995). [10] Furthermore, since this claim was previously raised and rejected in Johnson II, the law of the case doctrine applies. See Johnson II, 22 S.W.3d at 193. This doctrine, governing successive appeals, states that the same issues may not be relitigated in a subsequent appeal as the previous holding on those issues becomes the law of the case. Laws v. State, 183 S.W.3d 629, 633 (Mo.App.2006). Because Johnson previously asserted this argument in Johnson II, he may not raise it again in his current appeal, and this Court's previous holding rejecting his argument controls.