Document: 486 U.S. 249 108 S.Ct. 1792 100 L.Ed.2d 284 John T. SATTERWHITE, Petitioner,v.TEXAS. No. 86-6284. Argued Dec. 8, 1987. Decided May 31, 1988. Syllabus After petitioner was charged with the capital crime of murder committed during a robbery, but before he represented by counsel, subjected to court-ordered examination psychologist determine his competency stand trial, sanity at time offense, and future dangerousness. Petitioner not served copies State's motion for or court's order. later indicted, counsel appointed represent him, arraigned. The District Attorney, without serving copy on defense requested second psychiatric evaluation as same matters. Without determining whether had been notified motion, trial court granted ordered an specified psychiatrist. Later, letter from another psychiatrist (Dr. Grigson) appeared in file, stating that, pursuant order, examined that concluded "a severe antisocial personality disorder is extremely dangerous will commit acts violence." tried jury convicted murder, separate sentencing procedure conducted accordance Texas law jury. Appearing witness State, Dr. Grigson testified, over counsel's objection, opinion presented continuing threat society through criminal violence. answered affirmatively special verdict questions State proved beyond reasonable doubt, (1) defendant's conduct causing death deliberately expectation victim's would result, (2) there probability defendant violence constitute society." court, required state law, sentenced death. On petitioner's appeal sentence, Court Criminal Appeals held admission Grigson's testimony violated Sixth Amendment right, recognized Estelle v. Smith, 451 454, 101 1866, 68 359, formally consult submitting designed However, constitutional violation subject harmless error analysis, this case. Held: 1. use, proceeding, issue dangerousness Amendment. properly determined no compliance requirement, set out be given advance notice encompassing Petitioner's right attached him jail, record does support contention various ex parte motions orders contained file provided take place. Moreover, even if filings were timely applicable examination, they did adequately notify examine assess Constructive achieved mere placement satisfy Pp. 254-256. 2. rule forth Chapman California, 386 18, 87 824, 17 305—which prosecution can prove doubt contribute verdict, may stand—applies Smith. Some violations including pervade entire proceeding—by their very nature cast so much fairness process matter never considered harmless. effect case limited into evidence testimony. It important avoid proceedings. consequences phase more difficult because discretion sentencer. Nevertheless, reviewing make intelligent judgment about erroneous might have affected 256-258. 3. improperly doubt. critical "future dangerousness"—a which must found sentence imposed under law—was legally admitted sufficient jury's finding test, controlling question has complained obtained. Upon all hearing, finds it impossible say expert influence 258-260. 726 S.W.2d 81 (Tex.Cr.App.1986), reversed remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, STEVENS, SCALIA, JJ., joined. MARSHALL, filed concurring opinion, BRENNAN, joined, Part II BLACKMUN, post, p. ----. KENNEDY, took part consideration decision Richard D. Woods, San Antonio, Tex., petitioner. Charles A. Palmer, Austin, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR Court. 1 In 359 (1981), we defendants crimes examinations introduce obtained safeguard proceeding. 2 * March 15, 1979, Satterwhite murdering Mary Francis Davis robbery. next day, presiding Judge request psychological Satterwhite's Record Though order placed either. Psychologist Betty Lou Schroeder 3 indicted April 4. sent appointment Bexar County Attorney. App. 10. arraigned 13. 17, Attorney requesting crime, 12. serve motion. Sheriff produce Holbrook. reveal when file.1 4 James P. Grigson, M.D., file. wrote 3, Jail. He further reported 15-16. 5 murder. proceeding should life imprisonment. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc. Ann., Art. 37.071(a) (Vernon Supp.1988). produced its penalty. Over testified 6 At conclusion evidence, instructed decide proved, "the caused [was] [the victim] result," 33. provides returns affirmative findings both questions, shall death." 37.071(e) affirmatively, 7 appealed arguing assistance supra. agreed average 81, 92-93 (1986). acknowledged our holding tainting harmless, Holloway Arkansas, 435 475, 98 1173, 55 426 (1978), reasoned per se reversal inappropriate where, here, relates only particular evidence. S.W.2d, 93, n. 5. We certiorari analysis applies 482 905, 107 2480, 96 372 (1987). 8 controversy supra, also centered Grigson. case, this, sociopath who continue violent future. based upon problem client's dangerousness, submit " 'literally matter' face 'the guiding hand counsel.' U.S., 471, S.Ct., 1877, quoting Smith Estelle, 602 F.2d 694, 708 (CA5 1979), Powell Alabama, 287 45, 69, 53 55, 64, 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932). such examination. 9 requirement met agree. Since indictment, arraignment, occurred Jail, clear time. 469, 1876; Kirby Illinois, 406 682, 688-689, 92 1881-1882, 32 411 (1972). contest lower waive attorney participating contends, however, place.2 10 note preliminarily applicability timing some these are disputed: contain authorizing Satterwhite, 92; and, already noted, unclear 18 appointing Drs. Holbrook performed 1, Yet agree find actual knowledge cited authority proposition constructive satisfies Amendment, hold not. Accordingly, like Appeals, conclude use 11 Our end inquiry amount reversible error. generally stand. 24, 828, 705 (1967). 'promotes public respect focusing underlying rather than virtually inevitable presence immaterial error.' Rose Clark, 478 570, 577, 106 3101, 3105, 460 (1986) (quoting Delaware Van Arsdall, 475 673, 681, 1431, 1436-1437, 89 674 (1986)). 12 violations, fall within category. (1978) (conflict interest representation throughout proceeding); Chapman, 23, S.Ct, (citing Gideon Wainwright, 335, 83 792, 799 (1963) (total deprivation proceeding)); White Maryland, 373 59, 1050, 193 (absence arraignment defenses asserted irretrievably lost); Hamilton 368 52, 82 157, 114 (1961) (same). scope conflict-free cannot discerned record, any outcome purely speculative. As explained Holloway: 13 "In normal where harmless-error applied, occurs readily identifiable. undertake confidence relatively narrow task assessing likelihood materially deliberations But joint conflicting interests evil—it bears repeating—is what advocate himself compelled refrain doing, possible pretrial plea negotiations process. . Thus, claim here require, unlike most cases, unguided speculation." 490-491, 1181-1182 (citations omitted). 14 urges us adopt automatic relies heavily statement "when deprived attorney, either stage in, least, automatic. 335 [83 799] (1963); 52 [82 114] (1961); 59 193] (1963)." 489, 1181. His reliance misplaced, Holloway, Gideon, Hamilton, cases affected—and contaminated—the permitted noncapital evil trial. Milton 407 371, 2174, 33 (1972), example, confession Massiah United States, 377 201, 84 1199, 246 (1964), And identification postindictment lineup. Moore 434 220, 458, 54 424 (1977); Gilbert 388 263, 1951, 1178 (1967) (capital case); States Wade, 218, 1926, 1149 Just last year indicated apply Buchanan Kentucky, 483 402, 425, 21, 2906, 2919, 97 336 15 believe III 16 Applying A convinces jury, "there 37.071(b)(2) thought minds [on dangerousness] admitted." 93. question, assume was, rather, "beyond obtained." 828. introduced showed addition conviction four prior convictions ranging aggravated assault armed Eight police officers reputation being peaceful law-abiding citizen bad, mother's former husband once shot argument. Schroeder.3 she "cunning individual" "user people," inability feel empathy guilt. She her 55-56. final witness. stands qualifications medical doctor specializing psychiatry powerful content message. licensed physician informed educational background experience, included teaching Dallas school practicing years. stated unequivocably "will present lack conscience" "as you be." To illustrate point, scale "ones" mild sociopaths "tens" individuals complete disregard human life—Satterwhite "ten plus." direct perhaps devastating all: told reach rehabilitation. Id., 72-73. 19 highlighted credentials conclusions closing argument: 20 "Doctor doctor. tells range he's ten plus. Severe sociopath. Extremely dangerous. society. Can cured? Well, it's disease. It's illness. That's personality. Satterwhite." 2725-2726. 21 sentence. testify issue, significant weight unequivocal Having reviewed reverse insofar affirms remand proceedings inconsistent opinion. 22 ordered. 23 KENNEDY 24 whom BRENNAN joins BLACKMUN II, judgment. 25 I bald vacated. write separately errs applying violation. my view unique determination cause especially hesitant ever sanction review errors taint proceedings, certain 26 Until today's ruling, applied deciding fails consider sentencer's live die. Court's flawed accord noticeable qualitative difference other punishments. 27 Unlike guilt innocence, turns largely objective facts, appropriate requires profoundly moral character crime. California Brown, 479 538, 545, 837, 841, 93 934 (1987) (O'CONNOR, concurring) (a "reflect response background, character, crime"); Enmund Florida, 458 782, 801, 102 3368, 3378-3379, 73 1140 (1982) "punishment tailored personal responsibility guilt"). although jurisprudence since Furman Georgia, 408 238, 2726, 346 focused channeling specific sentencer nonetheless afforded substantial discretion. See, e.g., McCleskey Kemp, 481 279, 304-306, 1756, 1773-1775, 95 262 (1987); Woodson North Carolina, 428 280, 2978, 49 944 (1976). Even overwhelming aggravating act leniency refuse impose McCleskey, 311, 1777 ("[D]iscretionary exercises [by sentencer] unreviewable"). 28 Because hands sentencer, predicting reaction untainted basis cold dangerously speculative enterprise. Caldwell Mississippi, 472 320, 330, 105 2633, 2640, 86 231 (1985), "[w]hatever intangibles determination, few gleaned appellate record." vein, ill equipped evaluate determination. Such judgments, guided channeled, inherently subjective, gives instruction piece violate rights nowhere apparent record. "[i]ndividual jurors bring 'qualities varieties unknown unknowable,' collective marked "inherent predictability." 1777, Peters Kiff, 493, 503, 2163, 2169, (1972) (opinion J.). thus looms larger context elsewhere. 29 That concern awesome severity makes qualitatively different sanctions. Lockett Ohio, 438 586, 605, 2954, 2965, 57 973 (plurality opinion). For reason, emphasized greater need reliability "capital policed stages vigilant procedural accuracy factfinding." Strickland Washington, 466 668, 704, 104 2052, 2073, 80 (1984) (BRENNAN, dissenting part); see Ramos, 463 992, 998-999, 103 3446, 3451-3452, 1171 (1983) ("[T]he punishments correspondingly degree scrutiny determination"). heightened reliability, "[t]ime again condemned procedures completely acceptable ordinary case." Barefoot 880, 913, 3383, 3405, 1090 (MARSHALL, dissenting). Harmless-error impinges directly allowing substitute done absence 30 therefore serious doubts infects could phase, situation 31 initial matter, gave hint counsel. error, simply vacated 473, 1878. failure engage understandable, factors traditionally taints lead reversal. First, potential prejudice resulting high "case-by-case worth cost." 692, 2067. evidenced importance covering issues rehabilitative potential, individual culpability.1 clothed scientific often carries great lay juries. Cf. Ake Oklahoma, 470 68, 79, 1087, 1094, (1985) (recognizing "pivotal role" come play proceedings). Second, difficult, impossible, accurately measure arising impending subsequent acquired 159, (rejecting known"); 1182, ("[A]n [in involving conflict interests] speculation"). discussed above, die discretionary, balancing intangible factors. Divining province soothsayers judges. addition, contrary claim, ante, 7, illegal If intention perform course altered significantly. instance, extensively prepare client advise participate psychiatrist; urge 1877 (defendant "was denied attorneys making psychiatrist's employed"). attempt predict require speculation. confluence factors—the difficulty evaluating prejudice—together me error.2 settled stated: 'The too fundamental absolute allow courts indulge nice calculations denial.' automatic." 488-489, 1181, Glasser 315 60, 76, 62 457, 467, 680 (1942). "critical stage" 470, 1877. made regarding proposed 'difficult attorney' 'a available, biases predilections, [and] alternative strategies hearing.' 1979). 34 attempts distinguish "deprivation proceeding." Ante, 257. anticipated offense." 1181 (emphasis added). By exhibited appreciation something recognize.3 35 end, principally belief "that jury." 7. do possess ability divine view, speculation engendered presents intolerable danger administered erroneously. join aspect sanctioning 36 37 MARSHALL's results capital-sentencing particularly acute system Texas, answer purports answer. am fortified concern—wholly apart ubiquitous Doctor cases—about (wrong two times three). 916, 3407, (dissenting Assistant General oral argument stamped Clerk's stamp showing 18. Tr. Oral Arg. 22. us, contains stamp. 23. Defense informs twice, discover until mid-May. points following documents record: 3-4; granting id., 5; (3) Schroeder, 12-13; (4) 14. now contends Schroeder's (1981). explicitly noted raised appeal, decline it. statute provocation victim, "shall death" "committed deceased Crim.Proc.Ann., 37.071 one posed statute. easy identify "for reason responsible, government prevent." 2067, (1984). control prevent, result pose burden State. unable cite single ignored Holloway's reasoning occurring cites dicta (1987), indication willingness prosecuted little relevance context.

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