Opinion ID: 1147525
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Trial Court Proportionality Review

Text: Defendant's argument confuses intercase and intracase proportionality review. (33) Defendant's motion in the trial court requested intercase review, an examination of whether imposition of the death penalty in this case is disproportionate to the penalties imposed on other persons for similar offenses. Intercase proportionality review is not constitutionally required ( Pulley v. Harris (1984) 465 U.S. 37, 51-54 [79 L.Ed.2d 29, 40-43, 104 S.Ct. 871]) and we have consistently declined to undertake it (see, e.g., People v. Johnson, supra, 47 Cal.3d 1194, 1253; People v. Adcox, supra, 47 Cal.3d 207, 274; People v. Hamilton (1988) 46 Cal.3d 123, 158 [249 Cal. Rptr. 320, 756 P.2d 1348]). We likewise decline to authorize or require intercase proportionality review by trial courts. (See People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d 1222, 1285-1288 [equal protection does not require disparate sentence review of death sentences under section 1170, subdivision (f)].) In support of his argument that trial courts may undertake proportionality review, defendant relies on People v. Leigh (1985) 168 Cal. App.3d 217 [214 Cal. Rptr. 61]. But the holding in that case is that trial courts have discretion to determine intracase proportionality  i.e., to determine whether the sentence imposed is proportionate to the individual culpability of the defendant, irrespective of the punishment imposed on others (see People v. Adcox, supra, 47 Cal.3d 207, 274; People v. Dillon (1983) 34 Cal.3d 441, 477-482 [99 Cal. Rptr. 313, 492 P.2d 1]). Defendant's motion in the trial court did not seek intracase proportionality review.