Opinion ID: 2382857
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 52

Heading: Weisberg's Model

Text: As an alternative to the models created the Master, the State offers a method fashioned by its own expert, Herbert Weisberg. Even comparison groups formulated under Weisberg's criteria reveal that the death penalty rarely is imposed in cases like Marshall's. Weisberg's approach is similar to approaches based on the counting of statutory aggravating factors. Using what amounts to a form of educated intuition, Weisberg divided all death-eligible cases into four culpability categories, with Category 1 including the defendants he thought most culpable. According to Weisberg, Marshall fell into Category 1. Category 1 includes cases with the following configurations of statutory aggravating factors: c(4)(a); c(4)(a) and (c); c(4)(a), (c), and (g); c(4)(a) and (g); c(4)(b) and (d); c(4)(b), (f), and (h); c(4) (c), (f), and (g); c(4)(d); c(4)(d) and (f); c(4)(e); and c(4)(f) and (h). Weisberg Report, supra, at 15-16. Weisberg does not list death-eligible cases that did not result in a penalty trial, but even using the universe he uses, thereby creating a bias in favor of a finding of proportionate sentencing, Marshall's sentence still appears to be disproportionate. The death sentencing frequencies for this comparison group are as follows (counting only cases that resulted in penalty trials): Marshall Included: .12 (3/26) Marshall Excluded: .08 (2/25)