Opinion ID: 1822646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 26

Heading: Assignment of Error I: Constitutionality of Death By Electrocution

Text: Lotter assigns, restated, that the district court erred when it failed to grant an evidentiary hearing and vacate the death sentence because execution by judicial electrocution is in violation of the cruel and unusual punishment protections provided by the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. A motion for postconviction relief cannot be used to secure review of issues which were or could have been litigated on direct appeal. Hall v. State, 264 Neb. 151, 646 N.W.2d 572 (2002); State v. Dean, 264 Neb. 42, 645 N.W.2d 528 (2002). We rejected an Eighth Amendment claim in Lotter's direct appeal, based upon our prior holdings that Nebraska's death penalty statutes do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the federal or state Constitutions. State v. Lotter, 255 Neb. 456, 511, 586 N.W.2d 591, 629 (1998), modified on denial of rehearing 255 Neb. 889, 587 N.W.2d 673 (1999). In a motion for postconviction relief, the defendant must allege facts which, if proved, constitute a denial or violation of his or her rights under the U.S. or Nebraska Constitution, causing the judgment against the defendant to be void or voidable. State v. Harrison, 264 Neb. 727, 651 N.W.2d 571 (2002); State v. Gamez-Lira, 264 Neb. 96, 645 N.W.2d 562 (2002). An evidentiary hearing on a motion for postconviction relief is required on an appropriate motion containing factual allegations which, if proved, constitute an infringement of the movant's rights under the Nebraska or federal Constitution. State v. Zarate, 264 Neb. 690, 651 N.W.2d 215 (2002); State v. Dean, supra . Lotter's motion for postconviction relief includes no specific factual allegations which would warrant reconsideration of our prior decisions holding that death by electrocution as administered in this state is not cruel and unusual punishment. See State v. Ryan, 248 Neb. 405, 534 N.W.2d 766 (1995). Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying this claim for postconviction relief without an evidentiary hearing.