Opinion ID: 1755079
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: race as a factor in proportionality analysis

Text: The defendant does not allege and there is no indication that the jury's sentencing determination in this case was based upon race. Nevertheless, the State suggests a need for clarification regarding the use of race in proportionality analysis. In Bland , the Court listed race, along with age and gender, as one of the factors to be considered when comparing characteristics of defendants. 958 S.W.2d at 667. In applying the Bland factors to the defendant in State v. Pike, 978 S.W.2d 904 (Tenn.1998), the Court noted that [w]hile Pike is only the second woman to receive the death sentence in Tennessee, there is absolutely no indication that the jury's imposition of the death sentence was motivated by or based upon Pike's gender. Id. at 919. Likewise, race is considered when performing comparative proportionality review to ensure that an aberrant death sentence was not imposed due to the defendant's race.