Document: 536 U.S. 266 HORN, COMMISSIONER, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, ET AL.v.BANKS. No. 01-1385. Supreme Court of the United States. Decided June 17, 2002. ON PETITION FOR WRIT CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS THIRD CIRCUIT A Pennsylvania trial court sentenced respondent to death on each his 12 convictions first-degree murder. The verdict form in trial's penalty phase required, relevant part, jury check a box indicating that it found unanimously either at least one aggravating circumstance and no mitigating circumstances or more outweighing any circumstances. marked latter box. After respondent's direct appeal was denied, this held Constitution prohibits State from requiring jurors agree particular exists before they may consider their sentencing determination, Mills v. Maryland, 486 U. S. 367, 374. In subsequent state postconviction proceedings, rejected claim instructions forms case suggested findings had be unanimous. denying later federal habeas petition, District did not address whether retroactive, finding instead Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty Act 1996 (AEDPA) review standard dispositive. Third Circuit reversed granting relief under Mills. It need evaluate applied retroactively per Teague Lane, 489 288, because ruled retroactivity, court's application law unreasonable Boyde California, 494 370. Held: erred when failed perform analysis. Whether apply rule — new constitutional rules criminal procedure generally do cases became final were announced, S., 310 is threshold question every case. decline if does argue it; but Teague, must considering claim's merits. Caspari Bohlen, 510 383. Here, petitioners raised issue both Circuit. To extent opinion can read imply AEDPA has changed Caspari's legal principles, none Court's post-AEDPA have should automatically prisoner satisfies relieves courts responsibility addressing properly arguments. Certiorari granted; remanded. PER CURIAM. 1 Appeals for granted corpus sentence. 271 F. 3d 527 (2001). Applying review,1 concluded unreasonably evaluating improper 367 (1988). unnecessary applies 288 (1989), retroactivity. 3d, 541-543. avoiding issue, directly contravened 383 (1994), which we argued by government. We thus grant petition writ certiorari reverse Appeals' determination analysis unnecessary.2 2 Respondent, George Banks, convicted counts murder stemming series shootings September 25, 1982. During trial, instructed, part: 3 "The sentence you impose will depend upon your concerning Crime[s] Code Commonwealth provides finds circumstance, outweigh circumstances." 540 Pa. 143, 150, 656 A. 2d 467, 470 (1995). 4 required "[w]e unanimously" "[a]t circumstances," "[o]ne 549-550. box, also checked two other boxes (multiple offenses punishable life prison) (extreme mental emotional disturbance) found. Respondent count 5 decided Mills, are permitted determination. Subsequently, challenge case, arguing improperly "suggested its as unanimous." Pa., 149, 2d, 470. claim: "[B]oth verbal given well printed slips correct impermissibly suggestive unanimity requirement with respect Id., 153, 471. 6 petitioned relief, States Middle denied. 63 Supp. 525 (1999). merits, applying articulated 28 C. § 2254(d): "Supreme precedent ... require an outcome contrary reached courts." 544. Because dispositive, "not parties' arguments retroactivity Mills." Ibid. 7 first asked: "Are compelled conduct Teague?" 541. recognized that, "`threshold question,'" "Teague govern [its] analysis" "we focus anything than reasoning Court," 541, n. 13.3 petitioners' contention failure irrelevant court: teaches proceeding reluctant jurisprudence such handed down. Principles comity finality counsel maintain circumscribed scope review... however noted, examining wish considered Court, fact it. situation, implicated. Accordingly, ask only disturbed standards." 543 (citation omitted). 8 Freed performing Mills' created some disagreement among Federal Circuits,4 asked "whether regarding constitutionality instructions, slip, polling involved then standards 2254(d), relying 370 (1990). 551. explained "[c]onsidered whole, leave doubt `there reasonable likelihood challenged instruction way prevents consideration constitutionally evidence.'" 549 (quoting Boyde, supra, 380). 9 Petitioners seek certiorari, analysis, concluding decision find resolve these claims, determine committed clear error failing 10 "[u]nless fall within exception general rule, applicable those become announced." 310.5 And Caspari, "[a] therefore, obligated defendant's claim.... [A] may, not, But defendant seeks benefit law, merits claim." 389 (citations see 544, Appeals, 542-543. Thus, cited below, incumbent Court." 11 Although simply overlooked principles 13 ("We note, however, recent decisions called into what continued force independent AEDPA"). While course necessary prerequisite satisfy set forth 2254(d) ("[a]n shall unless" satisfied (emphasis added)), our standard, contrary, suggest about AEDPA's relationship inquiries distinct. See, e. g., Tyler Cain, 533 656, 669-670 (2001) (O'CONNOR, J., concurring) (construing successive provisions AEDPA, 2244(b)(2)(A)); Williams Taylor, 529 362, 412-413 (2000) 2254(d)). addition state. holding implicated" 543, remand further proceedings consistent opinion. so ordered. Notes: Title modified now provides, "[a]n behalf person custody pursuant judgment adjudicated unless adjudication resulted to, of, clearly established determined States." motion proceedin forma pauperis. deciding aTeague "acknowledge[d] specifically noted skepticism retroactive Mills" disagreed resolution claims similar respondent's. 542. CompareGall Parker, 231 265, 322 (CA6 2000) (Teague bar Mills), Dixon, 961 448, 456 (CA4 1992) (same), Miller Lockhart, 65 676, 685-686 (CA8 1995) bars Cordova Collins, 953 167, 173 (CA5 (same). exceptions toTeague's rule. permits places class private beyond power proscribe, addresses `substantive categorical guarante[e] accorded Constitution,' `prohibiting certain category punishment defendants status offense.'" Saffle Parks, 484, (1990) second `watershed procedure' implicating fundamental fairness accuracy proceeding." 495.

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