Document: 512 U.S. 967114 S.Ct. 2630129 L.Ed.2d 750 Paul Palalaua TUILAEPA, Petitioner,v.CALIFORNIA. William Arnold PROCTOR, Petitioner, v. CALIFORNIA. Nos. 93-5131, 93-5161. Supreme Court of the United States Argued March 22, 1994. Decided June 30, Syllabus * A defendant in California is eligible for death penalty when a jury finds him guilty first-degree murder and one or more special circumstances listed Cal.Penal Code Ann. § 190.2. The case then proceeds to phase, where instructed consider numerous other factors 190.3 deciding whether impose death. Petitioners Tuilaepa Proctor were convicted separate cases. At phase each trial, was relevant sentencing 190.3. Both petitioners sentenced death, State affirmed. Here, they challenge constitutionality penalty-phase factor (a), which requires sentencer "circumstances crime . existence any found be true." also challenges (b), "presence absence criminal activity [involving] use attempted force violence express implied threat violence," (i), defendant's age at time crime. Held: question are not unconstitutionally vague under this Court's decisions construing Cruel Unusual Punishments Clause. Pp. ____. (a) vagueness review quite deferential, relies on basic principle that unconstitutional if it has some "commonsense core meaning juries should capable understanding." Jurek Texas, 428 262, 279, 96 2950, 2959, 49 929 (White, J., concurring judgment). Petitioners' odds with settled principles, traditional subject consideration by sentencer, see, e.g., Woodson North Carolina, 280, 304, 2978, 2991, 944 (plurality opinion), instructs understandable terms. Factor (b) framed conventional terms as well. Asking matters historical fact permissible part process. Tuilaepa's (i) unusual light precedents. See Eddings Oklahoma, 455 104, 115-117, 102 869, 877, 71 1. While determining bearing ought have fixing can pose dilemma jury, difficulty application equivalent vagueness. This precedents foreclose petitioners' remaining arguments. Selection need require answers factual questions. confined submitting specific propositional questions, see Zant Stephens, 462 862, 878-880, 889, 103 2733, 2743-2744, 2749, 77 235, there no constitutional problem an instruction directs crime's facts circumstances. Nor must capital how weigh particular decision. See, Ramos, 463 992, 1008-1009, 3446, 3457-3458, 1171. 2638-2639. No. 4 Cal.4th 569, 15 Cal.Rptr.2d 382, 842 P.2d 1142, 93-5161, 499, 340, 1100, KENNEDY, delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., O'CONNOR, SCALIA, SOUTER, THOMAS, JJ., joined. filed opinions. STEVENS, judgment, GINSBURG, BLACKMUN, dissenting opinion. Howard W. Gillingham, Hollywood, CA, appointed petitioner Tuilaepa. Wendy Cole Lascher, Ventura, petitioner, Proctor. George Prahl, Sacramento, respondent. Justice KENNEDY Court. 1 In California, sentence trier find 19 190.2 (West 1988 & Supp.1994). number specified 190.3.1 These two cases present three Clause Eighth Amendment, made applicable Fourteenth Amendment. 2 Petitioner arises out he committed Long Beach, October 1986. accomplice walked into Wander Inn Bar small crowd had gathered watch Monday Night Football. Tuilaepa, who carrying .22-caliber rifle, approached bartender, pointed rifle him, demanded money from cash register. After bartender turned over money, his began robbing bar's patrons. When man named Melvin Whiddon, Whiddon refused knocked floor. shot neck next Whiddon's brother, Kelvin, standing nearby. another man, Bruce Monroe, stomach. As ran toward back door, confronted Kenneth Boone. Boone neck. died scene gunshot wounds; others suffered serious permanent injuries. 3 sought against charging circumstance 190.2: during commission robbery. true. trial judge unanimous murdered Bonnie Stendal, 55-year-old school teacher lived Burney, community Shasta County, California. On night April 1982, entered Mrs. Stendal's home beat her, causing cuts bruises her face. stabbed Stendal several times inflicted seven stab wounds area right breast. raped further sexual assaults foreign object. beating, torturing, raping strangled dumped body side road near Lake Britton, 12 miles Burney. late afternoon, clad nightgown hands tied behind back. 5 Proctor, including rape, burglary, infliction torture murder. mistrial Proctor's motion change venue granted, new empaneled Sacramento County. 6 appealed affirmed their convictions sentences. We granted certiorari, 510 ----, 114 598, 126 564 (1993), now affirm. II A. 7 Our punishment Amendment address different aspects decisionmaking process: eligibility decision selection To penalty, proportionate punishment. Coker Georgia, 433 584, 97 2861, 53 982 (1977). render homicide case, we indicated convict "aggravating circumstance" (or its equivalent) either guilt phase. Lowenfield Phelps, 484 231, 244-246, 108 546, 554-555, 98 568 (1988); 878, 2743, 235 (1983). aggravating may contained definition both). Lowenfield, supra, S.Ct., 554-555. explained, meet requirements. First, apply every murder; only subclass defendants Arave Creech, 507 113 1534, 1542, 123 188 (1993) ("If fairly could conclude applies circum stance constitutionally infirm"). Second, vague. Godfrey 446 420, 428, 100 1759, 1764-1765, 64 398 (1980); Arave, U.S., 1541 (court " 'must first determine statutory language defining itself too provide guidance sentencer' ") (quoting Walton Arizona, 497 639, 654, 110 3047, 3057-3058, 111 511 (1990)). 8 imposed requirement decision, determines receive sentence. "What important stage individualized determination basis character individual crime." Zant, 879, 2743-2744; 303-304, (1976) opinion). That met mitigating evidence record Blystone Pennsylvania, 494 299, 307, 1078, 1083, 255 (1990) ("requirement satisfied allowing all evidence"); Johnson 509 2658, 2669, 125 290 (slip op., 11). 9 fits within defined classification. Eligibility almost necessity answer nexus so "make rationally reviewable process imposing death." 1540 (internal quotation marks omitted). hand, expansive enough accommodate assure assessment culpability. objectives these inquiries tension, least occur same time. Romano 2004, 2009, --- ---- (1994) (referring "two somewhat contradictory tasks"). There common both decisions, however: ensure neutral principled guard bias caprice Gregg 153, 189, 2909, 2932, 859 (joint Stewart, Powell, JJ.) (procedures "minimize risk wholly arbitrary capricious action"). controlling objective examine Indeed, reason (at schemes) "too vague." Walton, 3057; Maynard Cartwright, 486 356, 361-364, 1853, 1857-1859, 372 (1988). 10 Because "the proper degree definition" often "is susceptible mathematical precision," our deferential. 655, 3058; Gregg, 193-194, 2935 (factors "are general"). Relying "common-sense understanding," judgment), few vague, those similar another. Maynard, 363-364, 1859 (question "especially heinous, atrocious, cruel"); Godfrey, 427-429, 1764-1765 "outrageously wantonly vile, horrible inhuman"); cf. ("We faced pejorative adjectives describe whole"). providing sentencing, recognized adopt processes rely upon sound exercise wide discretion. evident upheld challenges. id., 1541-1542 8-9) "cold-blooded, pitiless slayer" vague); 3057 "perpetrator inflict[ed] mental anguish physical abuse before victim's death" "mental includ[ing] uncertainty ultimate fate" vague) omitted); Proffitt Florida, 242, 255-258, 2960, 2968-2969, 913 (various "mitigating" questions nor "conscienceless [wa]s unnecessarily torturous victim") Jurek, 274-276, 2957-2958 "whether probability would commit acts constitute continuing society" vague). 11 holding because factor, presented proposition true false (e.g., especially cruel). held, certain schemes, used creates unacceptable randomness, mark prohibited Furman 408 238, 92 2726, 33 346 (1972). Stringer Black, 503 112 1130, 117 367 (1992). Those concerns mitigated does yes question, but instead points matter. §§ 190.3(a), (k) 1988). types (and distinction between always clear) utility. For purposes analysis, however, examining content concern 2959 B With principles mind, scheme. 1008, 3457, 1171 (1983) (jury [fell] legislatively category persons [by] truth alleged circumstance," course robbery). (Petitioners do argue insufficient, California's scheme save relation phase.) defendant. contend that, consequence, error instruct them. proceeding well: "[t]he presence involved violence"; none violate Constitution. 13 jurisprudence established penalty. Woodson, 2991 ("consideration offense [is] indispensable inflicting death"). hard pressed invalidate implements what said law requires. event, matter neither otherwise improper jurisprudence. 14 prior activity. objection fails many reasons. phrased rests large events occurred, thus asking fact. Under Texas example, jurors asked make predictive such society." 269, 2955. backward-looking forward-looking inquiry process, considerable latitude guide sentencer's respect. third again 877-878, (1982) (age decision). most rudimentary sort, suggestion term "age" contends, equivocal typical prosecution argues favor based age, old young It surprising remarkable relevance sentencer. But defense valid arguments significance case. Competing adversary parties bring perspective problem, serve promote reasoned likely discuss event. deficiency (i). C 16 take great issue conclusion Cf. 429, 1765 ("jury's interpretation [outrageously inhuman factor] sheer speculation"). argue, requirements factors, Brief pp. 10-25, therefore do. According petitioners, simply open-ended matter, crime" background defendant." Apart argument ignores obvious utility contravenes reveal stage, been told 'all extenuation, mitigation, aggravation well Defense.' n. 25, 25. stated "[n]othing Constitution prohibits instructing appropriate account making determination." Id., 888, 2748. And rejected Georgia "judge charged free circumstances, any, mitigation aggravation." 161, 203-204, 2919, 2939. cases, therefore, instructions directed "facts circumstances" well, reject 17 suggest flawed regard, claim single list evaluating weighing allows (as defense) wide-ranging about deserves argument, too, foreclosed informing Governor power commute life sentences given commutation figure presents problem." 22. Likewise, Florida even though various considered authorities [did] numerical weights assigned them." 258, 2969. moreover, "approved Georgia's statute clearly did channel jury's discretion enunciating standards circumstances." 875, 2742. "to scope argument" allowed hearings. sum, "discretion evaluate committed" impermissible McCleskey Kemp, 481 315, 37, 107 1756, 1779, 95 262 (1987). "Once falls myriad punishment." 3457. "unbridled after member class penalty." 426 2742; Barclay 939, 948-951, 3418, 3424-3425, 1134 contravention kind mandatory requiring found, facts, than factors. required conduct fashion. 199-200, 50, 2937-2938, 50. 18 directing judgments Affirmed. 20 concurring. 21 my view once adopted methodology narrow thereby ensuring imposition "freakish," Wainwright Goode, 464 78, 87, 104 378, 383, 78 187 (per curiam), distinctive procedural exhausted. 669-673, 3065-3068, (SCALIA, Today's adheres acknowledge additional requirements, since restricts expansion moves direction. reason, without abandoning views, I join 22 23 correctly recognizes adequate perform function genuine narrowing, selecting precision; depend requisite clarity embodying meaning," White put (concurring Taking essentially propositional, uses term, ante, ____, sufficiently clear pass muster; agree analysis challenged portion proposition. 24 whom GINSBURG joins, judgment. 25 come us answered like provided procedure Accordingly, assumption namely adequately confines justification severe compared murder." 26 whether, addition narrowing death-eligible defendants, characterize mitigating. held incorrect characterization prejudice defendant; follows, believe, failure unobjectionable. am persuaded references potentially ambiguous, relevant, actually reduces sentencing. 27 Prior (1972), authorized murders, less offenses armed robbery, kidnaping Moreover, virtually unbridled human taken spared. specifically danger racial fate defendant,* majority schemes unconstitutional. principal protections endorsed subsequent focus, respectively, actual 28 Chief REHNQUIST writing (1988) succinctly stated: "To muster, 'genuinely reasonably justify murder.' 244, 554 2742). sub-class murderers subjected cruel punishment—either disproportionate severity influenced factors—is diminished. 367, 1806, (1987) (STEVENS, dissenting). risks never entirely eliminated, identified safeguard protect extreme 29 Lockett Ohio, 438 586, 602-605, 2954, 2963-2965, 57 973 (1978), then-Chief Burger emphasized importance Insisting opportunity fair might irrelevant race incorrectly characterized history "assaultive offenses" circumstance, supporting admissible. 887-889, 2748-2749. clear, attach "aggravating" label to, authorize draw adverse inferences from, "factors totally example race, religion, political affiliation 885, 2747. 30 command. Matters crime, are, opinion, informed, Lockett, favorable subjects, prosecutor adduce unfavorable subjects. If, place prosecutor's evidence, necessarily follows refusing ambiguous permissible. indicated, think identification juror vote she harbors member. 31 (unchallenged petitioners) "scheme" complies 554, consistent entitlement "determination case." 305, (opinion JJ.). 32 dissenting. Adhering cannot constraints Constitution, Callins Collins, 1127, 127 435 (1994), vacate Even hold view, withstand meaningful "as practical [they] fail discretion." 1133, 34 35 direct jurors' attention matters. lists authorizes treat them placed death's scale. Jurors "shall outweigh Despite critical—even decisive —role play receives "A will deserving relying illusory circumstance." Stringer, 1139 (emphasis added). 36 introduces novel "propositional" "nonpropositional" Ante, acknowledges "distinction clear," ____; largely illusory. suggests, explicit, "require question," while nonpropositional "only poin[t] matter." Ibid. Presumably, then, cruel," aggravator, especial heinousness, atrocity, cruelty" factor. loss mere rephrasing anything propositional/nonpropositional appear role nowhere discloses line drawn, fall, relevance, future analysis.1 37 presented, it. Where, case," 1136, analysis. 873-874, 2740-2741, contrast, aggravator thumb scale, analyze aggravators clarity, objectivity, guidance. Pensinger 351, 116 (1991) (O'CONNOR, denial certiorari) (observing Mississippi, "requires circumstances"); 1137 (difference "nonweighing" states "weighing" "not 'semantics' (citation 38 Each "leave[s] sufficient factor." Espinosa 505 2926, 120 854 activity— exploited convince just aggravating. 39 Prosecutors argued, find, constitutes killed victim purportedly motive, money,2 motive all;3 cold blood,4 hot blood;5 conceal crime,6 attempt it;7 endure terror anticipating violent death,8 warning;9 relationship victim,10 complete stranger.11 Similarly, prosecutors child, adolescent, adult, prime life, elderly;12 method killing aggravating, strangled, bludgeoned, shot, stabbed, consumed fire;13 location own home, public bar, city park, remote location.14 short, Legislature courts ever articulated limiting construction permitted embrace entire spectrum homicide—something condemned (1980). 363, 1858-1859 (the "plainly submission set surrounding murder, however shocking be, themselves, warrant penalty").15 40 applied inconsistently erratically, similarly practice, judges age: teens, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties crime.16 Far applying construction, described "metonym age-related suggested experience morality inform choice People Lucky, 45 Cal.3d 259, 302, 247 Cal.Rptr. 1, 28, 753 1052, 1080 (1988), cert. denied, 488 1034, 109 848, 980 (1989). 41 violence." Although "criminal" "limited violates penal statute," Wright, 52 425, 276 731, 769, 802 221, 259 original), "force violence" excludes property, Boyd, 762, 215 700 782 (1985), court instruction, instructed. left introduce "trivial incidents misconduct ill temper," Cal.3d, 774, Cal.Rptr., 10, P.2d, 791, basis.17 42 No jurors—or —will mitigator transforming factually aggravator.18 ruled mitigators,19 Raley, 870, 919, 678, 710-711, 830 712, 744-745 (1992), 1352, 122 733 (1993). restricted case.20 Clearly, treating murderers. Davenport, 247, 289, 221 794, 821, 710 861, 888 (1985) (most moral participation). An exists nearly fulfill purpose guiding distinguishing "those deserve not." creating count artificially inflates weighs, "creat[ing] possibility randomness 43 lack regularize create system which, courtroom credited room. furnish 'clear standards' 'specific detailed guidance,' 'make death.' 660, 3061, part), quoting 1764, (1980) (footnotes 44 One greatest evils leaving unguided exercised considerations—primary among them, race. Racial paradigmatic irrational Graham 506 892, 906, 260 (THOMAS, concurring). diminish "attach[ ] 'aggravating' process," 2747, (1983), curbed informed "clear standards." 198, 2936, lacks poses succumb overt subtle impulses appeals. merely theoretical. far jurors, 320, 1782, (Brennan, dissenting); General Accounting Office, Death Penalty Sentencing: Research Indicates Pattern Disparities (Feb. 1990) (surveying synthesizing studies finding "remarkably consistent" likelihood being receiving 82% cases), reprinted 136 Cong.Rec. S6889 (May 24, 1990). 46 little minimize risk. weighed shall true") themselves encompass generally multiple-murder convictions; felony; cruel" nature identity enforcement officer, witness judge, prosecutor, official). statute, invites speculate about, give weight unspecified apart these. 47 limit ranging inquiry. concluded extends beyond "merely immediate temporal spatial crime," Edwards, 54 787, 833, 696, 725, 819 436, 465 (1991), leaves accordance subjective values," 595, 398, 1158 warned yet "explore[d] outer reaches admissible 835, 727, 467. Thus, "unique operate remain undetected," Turner Murray, 476 35, 106 1683, 1687, 90 (1986), unchecked instill confidence Samoan, whose white. 48 today rejects well-founded facial permit select clean bill health. Its unwillingness face door open way arbitrariness realized.21 us, situation treated aggravator. Additionally, says nothing adequacy subjects "special circumstance."22 By extraordinarily pool. mount called collectively sufficient, narrowing. 50 Of significance, slice component interaction components—the statutorily availability judicial review, appellate proportionality review—and end result satisfies Amendment's commands. treatment "selection factors" alone assumption, tested, eligibility. Should prove false, undermine approval 51 Pulley Harris, 51, 871, 879-880, 79 (1984), "so lacking checks muster comparative review" understanding 'provide[s] lessen[s] chance penalty,' 'guarantee[ing] guided deliberate.' Ibid., Harris Pulley, 692 F.2d 1189, 1194 (CA9 1982). litigation exposes distinctions, advised reevaluate Harris. summary, isolates complex assuming parts doing job, passes muster. crucial face, working together rationality fairness exposed III decades now, professed commitment sentencers' action," JJ.), achieve distinctions not, (1992); Shell 498 313, (1990); 1853 calls continued strength commitment. respectfully dissent. syllabus prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 282, 287, L.Ed. 499. Section provides part: "In following relevant: "(a) pursuant 190.1. "(b) violence. "(c) felony conviction. "(d) Whether influence emotional disturbance. "(e) participant homicidal consented act. "(f) believed extenuation conduct. "(g) acted duress substantial domination person. "(h) capacity appreciate criminality conform impaired disease defect, [e]ffects intoxication. "(i) "(j) participation relatively minor. "(k) Any extenuates gravity legal excuse Douglas' 249-251, 2731-2733. circumstances") "relevant factors") both, impermissibly (vagueness eligible); Sochor 504 2114, 119 326 (1992) (same); (same). much subjecting Howard, Cal.S.Ct. S004452, RT 6772. S004755, 10544 [54 436]. Visciotti, S004597, 3296-3297 [2 495, 825 388]. Jennings, S004754, 6755 [53 334, 279 780, 807 1009]. Benson, S004763, 1141 [52 754, 827, 330]. Morales, 3093. Webb, S006938, 5302 [6 494, 779, 862 779]. Freeman, 3711. Padilla, S0144964, 4604. Anderson, S004385, 3168-3169. Deere, S004722, 155-156 705, 280 424, 808 1181]. (victims 6); Bonin, S004565 RT, 10075 [46 659, 250 687, 758 1217]. adolescents); Carpenter, S004654, 16752 (victim 20); Phillips, [222 127], 63, 711 423, 444 (26-year-old "in life"); Melton, S004518, 4376 77). Clair, S004789, 2474-2475 629, 564, 828 705] (strangulation); Kipp, S004784, 2246 Fauber, S005868, 5546 792, 831 249] (use axe); 1149 330] hammer); Cain, S006544, 6786-6787 club); Jackson, S010723, 8075-8076 gun); Reilly, S004607, 14040 86, 796, 781] (stabbing); Scott, S010334, 847 (fire). 3167-3168 (victim's home); S004787, 3674, 3710-3711 (public bar); Ashmus, S004723, 7340-7341 932, 112, 820 214] (city park); 16749-16750 (forested area); Comtois, S017116, 2970 (remote, isolated location). aspect proffers death," (1978) approved unrestricted aggravation. scheme, permits offender, context performed 2740-2741. Williams, S004522, 1041 [45 1268, 248 834, 756 221] (teens); Avena, S004422, 2611-2612 Bean, 952, 18, 251 467, 760 996, 1017, Coleman, 153-154, 813, 836-837, 768 32, 55-56 (1989) 22), 1038, 1501, 635 Gonzalez, 1179, 1233, 275 729, 757, 800 1159, 1187 31), 117, 85 (1991); McLain, 97, 111-112, 249 630, 637-638, 757 576-577 41), 489 1072, 1356, 824 (1989); Douglas, 468, 538, 268 126, 167-168, 788 640, 681-682 56), 1110, 1023, 1105 (1991). "prior involving invalidated state subjective. State, 236 Ga. 534, 224 S.E.2d 386 (invalidating "murder person assaultive convictions"); David, 468 So.2d 1126, 1129-1130 (La.1985) "significant" conduct). Judges, juries, fallen trap. Kaurish, 648, 717, 788, 826, 278, 316 (trial (h), dealing actions, diminished impairment), 121, 89 Hamilton, 1186, 701, 728, 774 730, (d)-(h) (j)), 1039, 1503, 638 (1990). mitigators are: (d) (e) act (f) (g) (h) effects (j) 190.3; Amicus Curiae Appellate Project 22-24, nn. 47, 48, cited therein. argued nine 1476-1481, 1532-1534. Such something pointing Lewis Jeffers, 764, 3092, 606 (1990), imagine pronounced erratic outcomes. include premeditated deliberate felonies; torture; atrocious cruel; ethnic origin; victim, peace federal firefighter, assistant former current local, elected state, official.

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