Opinion ID: 1377397
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Constitutional Challenge to the 1978 Law

Text: Defendant contends the 1978 death penalty law violates the Eighth Amendment because it does not provide adequate safeguards to ensure against arbitrary death judgments, and does not provide for appellate proportionality review. Each of his federal constitutional arguments has been considered and rejected in recent opinions. (See, e.g., People v. Rodriquez (1986) 42 Cal.3d 730, 777-779 [230 Cal. Rptr. 667, 726 P.2d 113].) Nor could defendant successfully assert his sentence is unconstitutionally disproportionate under article I, section 17 of the California Constitution. ( People v. Dillon (1983) 34 Cal.3d 441, 449-484 [194 Cal. Rptr. 390, 668 P.2d 697]; In re Lynch (1972) 8 Cal.3d 410, 423-429 [105 Cal. Rptr. 217, 503 P.2d 921].) In view of the facts set out ante, at pages 1134-1137, defendant cannot show his sentence is disproportionate to his individual culpability. Nor can defendant claim his sentence otherwise violates the Dillon/Lynch requirements. (See Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d 1222, 1285-1286.) V. CONCLUSION We affirm the judgment of guilt, the finding of five special circumstances, and the judgment of death. The petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied.