Opinion ID: 1675525
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: There Must Be Some Burden of Proof At Sentencing

Text: A final word about the burden of proof at the sentencing phase. I do not expressly join in Section II of Justice Hawkins' dissenting opinion as to Part IV. It seems to me, however, that some burden of proof must be approved and utilized at sentencing. In my view, two separate and distinct questions are presented. First, should the jury be instructed that there is any burden of proof at all involved in their weighing and balancing aggravating circumstances and mitigating circumstances? Only if this question is answered in the affirmative do we reach the second question: what should that burden of proof be and upon whom should it rest? I am greatly concerned about the failure of the trial court to give the jury any instruction at all regarding the burden of proof to be applied. I am not aware of any other situation in which an issue is to be resolved by the jury where the trial court does not advise the jury of the applicable burden of proof, and upon whom it rests. It appears to me that we have here one of the remaining vestiges of the unfettered discretion death sentencing system condemned in Furman v. Georgia, supra , back in 1972.