Opinion ID: 1316820
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Modification of Death Sentence

Text: Guzman asserts that because the trial judge disagreed with the jury's imposition of the death penalty, he should have modified the sentence. NMSA 1978, Subsection 31-20A-1(D) (Repl.Pamp. 1981) provides: In a jury sentencing proceeding, the judge shall give appropriate instructions and allow argument and the jury shall retire to determine the punishment to be imposed   . (emphasis added.) NMSA 1978, Section 31-20A-3 (Repl. Pamp. 1981) provides in pertinent part: In a jury sentencing proceeding in which the jury unanimously finds beyond a reasonable doubt and specifies at least one of the aggravating circumstances ... and unanimously specifies the sentence of death ... the court shall sentence the defendant to death. (emphasis added.) In a jury proceeding, the jury determines whether to impose the death penalty; the trial judge must abide by this determination. If the sentence is not properly imposed, it is up to the New Mexico Supreme Court to review the sentence. This Court, not the trial judge, automatically reviews the jury's decision to impose the death penalty. NMSA 1978, § 31-20A-4 (Repl.Pamp. 1981). The trial judge, therefore, correctly ruled that it had no authority to modify the death sentence in a jury proceeding.