Opinion ID: 2612223
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: arizona death penalty statute is constitutional

Text: A. The appellant asserts that the death penalty statute constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution and article II, section 15 of the Arizona Constitution. We have previously considered and rejected this contention. State v. Vickers, 129 Ariz. 506, 633 P.2d 315 (1981). B. Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-703(C) provides that the court shall disclose to the defendant or his counsel all material contained in the presentence report except such material as the court determines is required to be withheld for the protection of human life. The statute then prescribes that any withheld information shall not be considered in determining the existence or nonexistence of aggravating or mitigating circumstances. The appellant submits that the statute violates the due process provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution and article II, section 4 of the Arizona Constitution because it precludes the court from considering mitigating circumstances which would dictate against imposing the death penalty. The appellant further argues that he cannot know if the court has withheld information because no rule provides for notice when material has been excised. This, he posits, renders the statute unconstitutional on its face and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty. While challenges to our death penalty statute are to be anticipated, we find no merit in this novel argument. Appellant's basic premise that a defendant has no notice if material has been excised is incorrect. Rule 26.6(c), 17 A.R.S. Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, states: When a portion of the presentence report is not disclosed, the court shall inform the parties and shall state on the record its reasons for making the excision. Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-703(C) imposes the additional requirement that material withheld from a presentence report for the protection of human life shall not be considered in imposing the death penalty. If material is withheld pursuant to § 13-703(C), the court must comply with rule 26.6(c) and also indicate that the excised material was not considered by the court in determining the sentence. State v. Watson, 114 Ariz. 1, 13, 559 P.2d 121, 133, cert. denied, 440 U.S. 924, 99 S.Ct. 1254, 59 L.Ed.2d 478 (1976). In State v. Watson, 120 Ariz. 441, 586 P.2d 1253 (1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 924, 99 S.Ct. 1254, 59 L.Ed.2d 478 (1979), we responded to the United States Supreme Court mandate in Lockett [3] and Bell [4] by requiring that a sentencing judge hear and consider evidence relevant to any mitigating circumstance when imposing the death penalty. Although the provision of A.R.S. § 13-703(C) (former A.R.S. § 13-454) precluding the judge from considering excised aggravating and mitigating evidence was in existence at that time, this court did not address that particular section in its opinion. In May of 1979, the Arizona Legislature codified the results reached in Watson giving us our present A.R.S. § 13-703. In all likelihood, had the legislature been aware of this apparent conflict between § 13-703(C) and Watson they would have ameliorated it. However, since the record indicates that no information was withheld from the appellant's presentence report, he has no claim for relief. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine information which would at once mitigate the imposition of the death penalty and constitute a danger to human life. C. Appellant next posits that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because the statute does not guarantee the immunity of defendant's testimony at the sentencing hearing. Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-703(C) places the burden of establishing the existence of mitigating circumstances on the defendant, but does not provide immunity for his testimony. The appellant argues that he is put in an untenable position where he must decide whether to testify at the hearing concerning mitigating factors and risk having those statements used against him or remain silent and hope his conviction will be reversed. This, he asserts, violates due process. Appellant also submits the failure to grant immunity violates his right against self-incrimination as guaranteed by the fifth amendment because any statement made at the sentencing hearing can be used against him if the judgment is later set aside. Appellant claims the provision denies him equal protection as guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment and article II, section 13 of the Arizona Constitution. He compares his situation to that of a person who enters a plea agreement and has a guarantee that his statements will not be used against him if the plea is later set aside. 17 A.R.S. Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 17.4(f). Appellant submits this unequal treatment renders the statute unconstitutional. Appellant's arguments are based on an incorrect premise. Rule 26.4, 17 A.R.S. Rules of Criminal Procedure, requires that a presentence report be made in all cases in which the court has discretion over the penalty to be imposed, and enumerates a few exceptions inapplicable to appellant. The comment to this rule provides that the report shall be prepared only after the determination of guilt, so as to avoid, insofar as possible, placing the defendant in a position where he is expected to disclose to the probation officer facts and versions of the offense that he is not disclosing at trial. Rule 26.6(d)(2), 17 A.R.S. Rules of Criminal Procedure, provides that in the event a new trial is ordered, neither a pre-sentence report nor any statement made in connection with its preparation shall be admissible at the trial. It is clear that the purpose of these rules is to protect a criminal defendant from self-incrimination. In order to secure the immunity which appellant seeks for his statements, he must proceed in compliance with these rules. In this way, appellant need not risk having his statements used against him at a later trial. We hold that the statute does not violate appellant's right against self-incrimination nor the equal protection and due process clauses of the fourteenth amendment. D. Appellant's next attack on A.R.S. § 13-703 is that, because it provides only one alternative to the death sentence, i.e., life imprisonment without possibility of parole for 25 calendar years, the statute violates the due process guarantees of the fourteenth amendment. We find no merit to this argument. Power resides with the legislature to define that conduct which will not be tolerated in an ordered society and to provide punishment for those who violate public policy. State v. Bly, 127 Ariz. 370, 371, 621 P.2d 279, 280 (1980). We will not disturb a legislative determination that life imprisonment or a death sentence is appropriate for a conviction of first degree murder. Arizona's death penalty statute is not unconstitutional. State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 659 P.2d 1 (1983). E. Appellant's final reason for claiming the Arizona death penalty statute is unconstitutional is that the penalty of death may not be appropriate at the time of execution. He urges that unless a defendant is allowed to present new mitigating factors, such as his model behavior as a prisoner, up to and including the day of his execution, the death penalty is not proper. If there is validity to appellant's claim, the avenues for post-conviction relief, both state and federal, are not closed to him. 17 A.R.S. Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 32; 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2254 (federal habeas corpus).