Opinion ID: 4534542
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: standard of review

Text: [1] In a capital sentencing proceeding, this court conducts an independent review of the record to determine if the evidence is sufficient to support imposition of the death penalty. 2 [2-4] When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the trier of fact’s finding of an aggravating circumstance, the relevant question for this court is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt. 3 The sentencing panel’s determination of the existence or nonexistence of a mitigating circumstance is subject to de novo review by this court. 4 In reviewing a sentence of death, the Nebraska Supreme Court conducts a de novo review of the record to determine whether the aggravating and mitigating circumstances support the imposition of the death penalty. 5 [5] In proceedings where the Nebraska Evidence Rules apply, the admissibility of evidence is controlled by the Nebraska Evidence Rules; judicial discretion is involved only when the rules make discretion a factor in determining admissibility. 6 [6] The constitutionality of a statute presents a question of law, which an appellate court independently reviews. 7