Opinion ID: 2557847
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Delaware Supreme Court Affirmed His Convictions, But Reversed His Death Sentences And Remanded For A New Penalty Hearing Where The Judge Again Sentenced Him To Death.

Text: Jackson appealed his convictions and death sentences. On July 15, 1994, [1] this Court affirmed Jackson's convictions, but vacated both death sentences. The United States Supreme Court denied the State's certiorari petition. On March 1, 1995, Jackson filed a Motion to Recuse the Superior Court judge who had presided over his original trial and penalty hearing, and to whom the case had been reassigned on remand. On March 22, 1995, the judge denied the recusal motion. Starting on September 15, 1995, the Superior Court held a six day penalty hearing. According to standard protocol, the jury at this second penalty hearing consisted of different persons than those who constituted the jury at the first penalty hearing. At the conclusion of this penalty hearing, the jury, similar to the first, unanimously found the existence of two statutory aggravating factors and recommended death by an eleven to one vote. By Sentencing Order dated October 26, 1995, the Superior Court judge again addressed independently the aggravating and mitigating factors as the statute required. He concluded that the State had proven both statutory aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt and all eleven of its asserted non-statutory aggravating circumstances by credible and reliable evidence. The judge also concluded that Jackson had proven all eight of his asserted mitigating factors by credible and reliable evidence. After weighing the aggravating factors against the mitigating factors, the judge again imposed a death sentence for each of Jackson's murder convictions. On October 29, 1996, this Court affirmed the Sentencing Order, and on April 14, 1997, the United States Supreme Court denied Jackson's petition for a writ of certiorari.