Opinion ID: 1058852
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Constitutionality of Virginia's Capital Murder and Death Penalty Statutes

Text: Juniper challenges the constitutionality of Virginia's capital murder and death penalty statutes, but cites only Code § 19.2-264.4 and § 19.2-264.5. All of the arguments Juniper posits in support of his assignment of error have been previously considered and rejected by this Court: (1) The terms future dangerousness and vileness are unconstitutionally vague, failing to provide the sentencer with meaningful instruction to avoid the arbitrary and capricious infliction of a death sentence. Rejected in Beck v. Commonwealth, 253 Va. 373, 387, 484 S.E.2d 898, 907, cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1018, 118 S.Ct. 608, 139 L.Ed.2d 495 (1997) (vileness); Mickens v. Commonwealth, 247 Va. 395, 403, 442 S.E.2d 678, 684, (vileness and future dangerousness), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 513 U.S. 922, 115 S.Ct. 307, 130 L.Ed.2d 271 (1994); see also Jackson v. Commonwealth, 267 Va. 178, 205-06, 590 S.E.2d 520, 535-36, cert. denied, 543 U.S. 891, 125 S.Ct. 168, 160 L.Ed.2d 155 (2004) (future dangerousness); Wolfe v. Commonwealth, 265 Va. 193, 208, 576 S.E.2d 471, 480, cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1019, 124 S.Ct. 566, 157 L.Ed.2d 434 (2003) (vileness and future dangerousness). (1) The statutes impose unconstitutional barriers to a jury's consideration of mitigation evidence. Rejected in Watkins v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 469, 490-91, 331 S.E.2d 422, 438 (1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1099, 106 S.Ct. 1503, 89 L.Ed.2d 903 (1986); see also Swann v. Commonwealth, 247 Va. 222, 228, 441 S.E.2d 195, 200, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 889, 115 S.Ct. 234, 130 L.Ed.2d 158 (1994). (2) The statutes are unconstitutional because they permit a sentencer to find future dangerousness based upon unadjudicated criminal conduct. Rejected in Stockton v. Commonwealth, 241 Va. 192, 209-10, 402 S.E.2d 196, 206, cert. denied, 502 U.S. 902, 112 S.Ct. 280, 116 L.Ed.2d 231 (1991); see also Jackson, 267 Va. at 206, 590 S.E.2d at 536. (3) The statutes permit consideration of a post-sentence report that may infringe upon defendant's right to due process, to confront accusers, to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, and to effective assistance of counsel because the report may contain hearsay and permits the death sentence despite a showing of good cause that a life sentence is just and appropriate. Rejected in O'Dell v. Commonwealth, 234 Va. 672, 701-02, 364 S.E.2d 491, 507-08, cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871, 109 S.Ct. 186, 102 L.Ed.2d 154 (1988); Breard v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 68, 76, 445 S.E.2d 670, 675-76, cert. denied, 513 U.S. 971, 115 S.Ct. 442, 130 L.Ed.2d 353 (1994) (good cause for life sentence); see also Jackson, 267 Va. at 206, 590 S.E.2d at 536 (rejecting both arguments). (2) The statutes deny individuals sentenced to death from meaningful appellate review. Rejected in Smith v. Commonwealth, 239 Va. 243, 253, 389 S.E.2d 871, 876 (1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 881, 111 S.Ct. 221, 112 L.Ed.2d 177 (1990); see also Stockton, 241 Va. at 215-16, 402 S.E.2d at 210.