Opinion ID: 867411
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Entitlement to Jury Sentencing

Text: ¶ 64 Grell argues that he is entitled to jury sentencing by the terms of his trial-by-submission agreement. He asserts that he agreed to a trial by submission in exchange for preserving his claim that the United States Constitution entitled him to a jury determination of aggravation or mitigation at the sentencing phase. The cover statement of the stipulation states: This stipulation shall in no way constitute a waiver of any rights the defendant may have to have a jury empanelled to determine the existence or absence of any aggravating and or mitigating circumstances. ¶ 65 The State acknowledges that Grell attempted to preserve his right to a jury trial for sentencing. It argues, however, that Grell preserved only any right [he] may have to a jury sentencing, not an absolute right to such a proceeding. Under Ring, the State thus maintains, Grell has a right to a jury sentencing only if the judicial sentencing was not harmless error. ¶ 66 While that may be one way to interpret the jury sentencing provision, Grell clearly believed that the stipulation would entitle him to a jury trial on aggravating facts if the Ring challenge was successful. When the parties signed the agreement in September 2000, Apprendi had just been decided. Its reasoning suggested that Arizona's judge-sentencing system was unconstitutional. Grell's stipulation was thus not a meaningless reservation of a pipe-dream right. Moreover, because Grell admitted the act of killing his daughter, the sentencing hearing held increased significance as his only chance to avoid a sentence of death. He waived his right to a jury trial on the guilt-phase issues at least in part based on assurances that he would retain his right to be sentenced by a jury. ¶ 67 We find that the agreement entitles Grell to a jury sentencing. We therefore vacate the sentence of death and remand for a sentencing proceeding in accordance with A.R.S. §§ 13-703 and 13-703.01 (Supp.2002).