Opinion ID: 1857482
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Existence of Definition.

Text: We deal first with Moore's argument that there was at the time of his resentencing no constitutionally viable definition of exceptional depravity available to the resentencing panel. Aggravating circumstance § 29-2523(1)(d) contains two separate disjunctive components which may operate together or independently of one another. State v. Ryan, 248 Neb. 405, 534 N.W.2d 766 (1995). The second component of this aggravating circumstance exists if a murder manifest[s] exceptional depravity by ordinary standards of morality and intelligence. § 29-2523(1)(d). We have said that this pertains to `the state of mind of the actor' and may be proved by or inferred from the defendant's conduct at or near the time of the offense. State v. Palmer, 224 Neb. 282, 319, 399 N.W.2d 706, 731 (1986), cert. denied 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 206, 98 L.Ed.2d 157 (1987). In order to guide the sentencing authority in applying this aggravating circumstance, we have construed exceptional depravity to mean so coldly calculated as to indicate a state of mind totally and senselessly bereft of regard for human life.... State v. Harper, 208 Neb. 568, 579, 304 N.W.2d 663, 669 (1981), cert. denied 454 U.S. 882, 102 S.Ct. 368, 70 L.Ed.2d 194. Accord, State v. Peery, 199 Neb. 656, 261 N.W.2d 95 (1977), cert. denied 439 U.S. 882, 99 S.Ct. 220, 58 L.Ed.2d 194 (1978); State v. Rust, 197 Neb. 528, 250 N.W.2d 867 (1977), cert. denied 434 U.S. 912, 98 S.Ct. 313, 54 L.Ed.2d 198. See, State v. Moore, 210 Neb. 457, 316 N.W.2d 33 (1982), cert. denied 456 U.S. 984, 102 S.Ct. 2260, 72 L.Ed.2d 864; State v. Holtan, 197 Neb. 544, 250 N.W.2d 876 (1977), cert. denied sub nom. 434 U.S. 912, 98 S.Ct. 313, 54 L.Ed.2d 198; State v. Stewart, 197 Neb. 497, 250 N.W.2d 849 (1977). We have also emphasized that the use of the word exceptional confines this aggravating circumstance to only those situations where depravity is apparent to such an extent as to obviously offend all standards of morality and intelligence. State v. Simants, 197 Neb. 549, 250 N.W.2d 881 (1977), cert. denied 434 U.S. 878, 98 S.Ct. 231, 54 L.Ed.2d 158. In an effort to provide additional guidance regarding this aggravating circumstance, we adopted in Palmer a five-factor test which could be used to determine whether a murder demonstrated exceptional depravity, writing: Therefore, for the purpose of [applying] § 29-2523(1)(d) as an aggravating circumstance in determining whether the death penalty may be imposed, we hold that exceptional depravity in a murder exists when it is shown, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the following circumstances, either separately or collectively, exist in reference to a first degree murder: (1) apparent relishing of the murder by the killer; (2) infliction of gratuitous violence on the victim; (3) needless mutilation of the victim; (4) senselessness of the crime; or (5) helplessness of the victim. 224 Neb. at 320, 399 N.W.2d at 731-32. We also observed that one or more of the five factors were present in the following death penalty cases where exceptional depravity was found to exist: Holtan, supra ; Simants, supra ; Peery, supra; State v. Otey, 205 Neb. 90, 287 N.W.2d 36 (1979), cert. denied 446 U.S. 988, 100 S.Ct. 2974, 64 L.Ed.2d 846 (1980); Harper, supra; Moore, supra; State v. Reeves, 216 Neb. 206, 344 N.W.2d 433 (1984), cert. denied 469 U.S. 1028, 105 S.Ct. 447, 83 L.Ed.2d 372. However, our language in Palmer should not be read as an abandonment of our previous definition of exceptional depravity. Indeed, on the very same day as Palmer, we decided State v. Joubert, 224 Neb. 411, 432, 399 N.W.2d 237, 251 (1986), cert. denied 484 U.S. 905, 108 S.Ct. 247, 98 L.Ed.2d 205 (1987), a case where the coldly planned, that is to say coldly calculated, element of exceptional depravity was applied in addition to the Palmer factors. While we have maintained that both the Palmer factors and the coldly calculated language from previous decisions provided sufficient guidance to the sentencing authority, the federal courts have not always agreed. The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska granted Moore habeas corpus relief on the ground that the exceptional depravity component of aggravating circumstance § 29-2523(1)(d) was unconstitutionally vague both on its face and as construed. Moore v. Clarke, No. CV84-L-754 (D.Neb. Sept. 20, 1988). On appeal, the Eighth Circuit affirmed, disapproving both the coldly calculated language and the Palmer factors. Moore v. Clarke, 904 F.2d 1226 (8th Cir. 1990), cert. denied 504 U.S. 930, 112 S.Ct. 1995, 118 L.Ed.2d 591 (1992). However, the comments of the Eighth Circuit regarding the constitutional viability of the Palmer factors were dicta and in any event cannot be considered authoritative in light of the subsequent opinion it issued in denying the State a rehearing in Moore v. Clarke, 951 F.2d 895 (8th Cir.1991), cert. denied 504 U.S. 930, 112 S.Ct. 1995, 118 L.Ed.2d 591 (1992). Noting the U.S. Supreme Court's intervening opinions in Walton v. Arizona, 497 U.S. 639, 110 S.Ct. 3047, 111 L.Ed.2d 511 (1990), and Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 110 S.Ct. 3092, 111 L.Ed.2d 606 (1990), the second opinion reaffirmed the limited grant of habeas corpus relief to Moore on the basis that the coldly calculated language was unconstitutionally vague. Significantly, though, the Eighth Circuit this time refused to comment on the constitutionality of the Palmer factors; it merely noted that the narrower Palmer definitions had not been applied in Moore's case. The Eighth Circuit, citing to both Walton v. Arizona, supra , and Moore v. Clarke, 951 F.2d 895 (8th Cir.1991), cert. denied 504 U.S. 930, 112 S.Ct. 1995, 118 L.Ed.2d 591 (1992), has since concluded that Palmer 's narrower construction of exceptional depravity is clearly constitutional. Joubert v. Hopkins, 75 F.3d 1232 (8th Cir.1996). Accordingly, we have no trouble concluding, as indeed we have always maintained, that the Palmer construction of the exceptional depravity component of aggravating circumstance § 29-2523(1)(d) is constitutional. See, State v. Ryan, 248 Neb. 405, 534 N.W.2d 766 (1995); State v. Ryan, 233 Neb. 74, 444 N.W.2d 610 (1989), cert. denied 498 U.S. 881, 111 S.Ct. 216, 112 L.Ed.2d 176 (1990); State v. Joubert, supra ; State v. Palmer, 224 Neb. 282, 399 N.W.2d 706 (1986), cert. denied 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 206, 98 L.Ed.2d 157 (1987). It therefore cannot be said that at the time of Moore's resentencing, there existed no constitutionally viable definition of exceptional depravity. The resentencing panel could have applied the Palmer factors.