Opinion ID: 2243679
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: defendant's constitutional claims

Text: Defendant makes several constitutional claims, all of which are without merit and which may disposed of summarily. Defendant's first constitutional argument is that the term brutal or heinous in section 9-1(b)(7) is unconstitutionally vague, in violation of the eighth and fourteenth amendments. We addressed the same challenge and rejected it in People v. Odle (1988), 128 Ill.2d 111, 138-41, 131 Ill.Dec. 53, 538 N.E.2d 428. We reaffirm that decision today. Likewise, we reject defendant's argument that the term cold, calculated and premeditated in section 9-1(b)(10) is unconstitutionally vague. We disagree. The challenged terms provide adequate guidance for assessing death eligibility, and the facts of this case provide ample support for the judge's finding that the murder was cold, calculated and premeditated. Defendant next claims that the trial court did not provide the individualized consideration of mitigation required by the eighth and fourteenth amendments because it determined that defendant's background was not mitigating. Apparently, defendant believes that evidence of a disadvantaged background is inherently mitigating, and sufficiently so. This is not the law, and we decline defendant's invitation to broaden the term mitigation to that extreme. The sentencing judge considered the defendant's background, and concluded that it did not militate against imposition of the death penalty. Defendant next contends that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because its burden of proof effectively precludes consideration of mitigating factors. This court has considered and rejected this contention a number of times. (See People v. Morgan (1991), 142 Ill.2d 410, 472, 154 Ill.Dec. 534, 568 N.E.2d 755; People v. Bean (1990), 137 Ill.2d 65, 138, 147 Ill.Dec. 891, 560 N.E.2d 258.) We reaffirm those decisions today. Finally, defendant argues that the death penalty is unconstitutional because it does not sufficiently guard against the possibility of an arbitrarily or capriciously imposed sentence. Again, this court has upheld the statute in the face of previous challenges that the statute results in arbitrarily or capriciously imposed death sentences. (See People v. Gosier (1991), 145 Ill.2d 127, 165, 163 Ill.Dec. 823, 582 N.E.2d 89; People v. Phillips (1989), 127 Ill.2d 499, 542-43, 131 Ill.Dec. 125, 538 N.E.2d 500.) The death penalty statute sufficiently guards against these evils, and defendant's argument must be rejected.