Legal Document

524 U.S. 88118 S.Ct. 1895141 L.Ed.2d 76 Frank X. HOPKINS, Warden, Petitioner,v.Randolph K. REEVES. No. 96-1693. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Feb. 23, 1998. Decided June 8, Syllabus * Respondent was indicted on two counts felony murder under Nebraska law. The first-degree statute defines as committed in perpetration certain enumerated felonies, including, relevant here, sexual assault and attempt to commit first degree. Under law, intent kill is conclusively presumed if State proves underlying felony. A conviction makes a defendant eligible for death penalty, which imposed judicially, not by trial jury. court refused respondent's request instruct jury second-degree manslaughter ground that consistently has held these crimes are lesser included offenses murder. Respondent's then convicted him both counts, three-judge panel sentenced death. After exhausting his state remedies, respondent filed federal habeas corpus petition, claiming, inter alia, court's failure give requested instructions unconstitutional Beck v. Alabama, 447 625, 100 2382, 65 392, this invalidated an Alabama law prohibited offense capital cases, when charged crime existed such were generally given noncapital cases. District granted relief unrelated due process claim, Eighth Circuit rejected. However, also that, failing instructions, had same constitutional error Beck. Held: does require courts juries Pp. ____-____. (a) distinguishable from case critical respects: clearly recognized crime, it did so only thus erected artificial barrier restricted its choice between acquittal. By contrast, declined merely followed Court's 100-year-old rule neither created nor treated cases differently. ignoring distinctions, limited State's prerogative structure criminal more severely than Beck, required effect create all no exists (b) again overlooked significant distinctions found there distortion factfinding because been forced into all-or-nothing innocence. fact Beck's told must impose penalty threatened make issue at whether he should be executed or not, guilty beyond reasonable doubt. carried over sentencing unwilling acquit but These factors present here. sentence, panel's alternative setting free, rather life imprisonment. Moreover, proposed would have introduced another kind trial, they allowed find doubt elements State, having assumed obligation proving one attempted prove indeed ignored during trial. (c) requirement Tison Arizona, 481 137, 107 1676, 95 127, Enmund Florida, 458 782, 102 3368, 73 1140, culpable mental with respect killing proved before may affect showing defendant's long satisfied some point thereafter, appeal. Cabana Bullock, 474 376, 385, 106 689, 696, 700, 88 704. As such, cannot override determinations permissible not. argument longstanding interpretation homicide arbitrary without merit. That contention certainly strained murder, requires proof kill, while not; challenge Court, therefore claim considered F.3d 977, reversed. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion REHNQUIST, C. O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, GINSBURG, BREYER, JJ., joined. STEVENS, dissenting opinion. Donald B. Stenberg, Lincoln, NE, petitioner. Roy W. McLeese, III, Washington, DC, amicus curiae special leave Court. Paula Hutchinson, appointed respondent. Justice THOMAS 1 In 392 (1980), we case, consider We conclude constitutionally required, reverse contrary judgment Appeals. 2 early morning hours March 29, 1980, police received emergency call Religious Society Friends meetinghouse Nebraska. Responding call, Janet Mesner, live-in caretaker, lying floor rear house seven stab wounds her chest. When officer asked who stabbed her, Mesner gave name. officers went upstairs bedroom partially clad dead body Victoria Lamm, friend visiting meetinghouse. She twice, blow penetrating main pulmonary artery heart second liver. billfold containing identification near Lamm's body. underwear, later identified respondent's, middle blood-soaked sheets bed; subsequent examination underwear revealed semen blood type. Near bed, serrated kitchen knife Mesner's it. Before dying, raped her. Shortly arrested respondent, them although could remember much about murders severe intoxication, recall stabbing raping Mesner. 3 proceeded against theory. form defined "in perpetrate'' including Neb.Rev.Stat. §28-303 (1995). proceeding theory, prosecutors do need Reeves, 216 Neb. 206, 217, 344 N.W.2d 433, 442 (1984). Although renders see §28-303, defendant; judicial function. §29-2520. 4 At instructed degree manslaughter, which, argued, App. 6-9.1 crime. Id., 10. presented counts.2 raised insanity defense, rejected counts. convened aggravating mitigating circumstances. It convictions. 5 affirmed convictions sentences, cert. denied, 469 1028, 105 447, 83 372 (1984), unsuccessfully pursued collateral relief, 234 711, 453 359 (1990). This vacated further consideration light Clemons Mississippi, 494 738, 110 1441, 108 725 (1990), sentence based part invalid factor. See Reeves Nebraska, 498 964, 111 425, 112 409 On remand, Clemons, independently reweighed applicable factors, reaffirmed sentences. 239 419, 476 829 (1991), 506 837, 113 114, 121 71 (1992). 6 petition writ district court. He 44 claims, ground. 871 F.Supp. 1182, 1202, 1205-1206 (Neb.1994). Appeals reversed latter determination remanded 1424, 1427-1431 (1996), finding violation arising out reaffirmance sentences 928 941, 959-965 (Neb.1996). 7 appeal, entitled instructions. 977 (1996). reasoned despite law: "prohibited charges where made death-eligible.'' F.3d., 983 (emphasis original). Because "could either manslaughter,'' concluded id., 984. stated denial justified killing, 1140 (1982), 127 (1987), minor participant intended shown reckless indifference human life. F.3d, 984-985. and, relying circuit precedent holding applies death, option retrying agreeing modify 986. 8 decision below conflicted prior Ninth Circuit, Greenawalt Ricketts, 943 F.2d 1020 (C.A.9 1991), 888, 252, 184 (1992), certiorari. 521 ----, 118 30, 138 1059 (1997).3 II 9 erred concluding compelled differ fundamentally. ""[r]obbery attempts thereof victim intentionally killed defendant.''' U.S., 627, S.Ct., 2384 (quoting Ala.Code §13-11-2(a)(2)). noncapital, 628-630, 2384-2387, available defendants 628, 2384-2385. result, options: convict penalty,4 acquit. 628-629, 2384-2386. third convicting "diminish[ed] reliability guilt determination.'' 638, 2390. Without option, believed other serious offense, might altogether. 642-643, 2392-2393. "constitutionally withdrawing case.'' 10 determined evidence supports them, alike.5 years, See, e.g., Price, 252 365, 372, 562 340, 346 (1997); Masters, 246 1018, 1025, 342, 348 (1994); Ruyle, 760, 773, 452 734, 742-743 (1990); McDonald, 195 636-637, 240 15 (1976); Thompson 395, N.W. 68 (1921); Morgan 51 672, 695, 788, 794-795 (1897). If gives those offenses, supra, 396, N.W., 68. Thus, matter obtain 11 respects. "artificial barrier'' Brief Amicus Curiae 20 (citing California Ramos, 463 992, 1007, 103 3446, 3456-3457, 77 1171 (1983)). Here, deny any existing murder; offenses. doing, jury; treat differently Instead, simply 12 sovereignty manner Almost States, provide deemed constitute n. 5, supra. never suggested Constitution anything more. however, crimes, requiring instruction offense-what called "lesser related offense''-when exists. Such unprecedented, unworkable. scheme, basis determining warranted. apparently recognize right bears resemblance supported evidence. affirmative unquestionably greater limitation 's erect capital-specific, provision actually 13 principally placed position -that ""forced innocence.''' 982 Spaziano 468 455, 104 3154, 3159-3160, 82 340 (1984)). automatically tied conviction, penalty. 639, 15, 2390 15. "whether ha[d] each every element doubt.'' 643, 19, 2392, 19. addition, directly sentencing, There possibility upon whose conduct merit it, their convinced escape punishment entirely. 14 burden imposing sentence. Indeed, specifically "no take what disposition receive event . acquittal reason insanity.'' 24. dilemma faced imprisonment.7 theory well evidence; entire focused solely obligation. To allow therefore, prove, course can hardly said reliable result: "Where exists, detracts from, enhances, rationality process.'' 3159. 16 erroneously relied our decisions support holding. refuse read essentially alter definitions include mens rea killing.8 704 (1986), precisely reading "our ruling concern innocence defendant-it establishes new state's definition substantive offense.'' 696 (internal quotation marks citation omitted). For reason, comply Enmund's even 700. Accordingly, thereafter. 17 Finally, argues because, view, recitations application tests place since conviction. 40-43. §§28-303, 28-304 appears undertaken analysis unlawful act manslaughter-unintentional act. §28-305. direct ground, clearest statement briefs why referred generally, following reason: "As ruled Ellis, 208 379, 303 741 (1981), necessary "where eye witness act, largely circumstantial.''' Reply Appellant 81-706 (Neb.Sup.Ct.), p. 11. will second-guess 100-year old failed instance. 18 foregoing reasons, Appeals' granting conditional 19 ordered. dissenting. 21 ordinarily murder.1 Based fact, holds judge grant authorizing offense. logic unassailable sought 22 cause victim, whereas But moral equivalent intent. rationale Nebraska's general apply case.2 faithful teaching hold instruction. 23 I respectfully dissent. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 L.Ed. 499. "caus[ing] person intentionally, premeditation,'' §28-304, "kill[ing] malice, sudden quarrel, caus[ing] unintentionally commission act,'' One questions certiorari "new rule'' Teague Lane, 489 288, 109 1060, 334 (1989). Pet. Cert. i. time certiorari, choose decide merits. Cf. Godinez Moran, 509 389, 397, 2680, 2685, 125 321 (1993) (declining address petitioner raise defense lower certiorari). authority reduce imprisonment parole. jury, effect; rather, guilty. 2390, noted distinguishing Alabama's scheme practices rest States. 636, 12, 2389, Hegwood, 202 275 605 (1979)). particular adopted variety approaches. Berlin, 133 Wash.2d 541, 550-551, 947 P.2d 704-705 (1997) (en banc) (comparing statutory determine contained offense); People Beach, 429 Mich. 450, 462, 418 861, 866-867 (1988) (applying "cognate evidence'' approach: though "overlapping relate common purpose statutes'' specific adduced cognate offense) omitted); Curtis, 130 Idaho 522, 524, 944 119, 121-122 (court looks information "charges accused necessarily includes acts offense''). Compare Schmuck 705, 1443, 734 (1989) (adopting test law). Since alternated use test; currently employs former. Williams, 243 959, 963-965, 503 561, 564-565 (readopting test), overruling Garza, 236 202, 207-208, 459 739, 743 (1990) (reaffirming disapproving Lovelace, 212 356, 359-360, 322 673, 674-675 (1982) test). nonetheless course, differs sentencer, express here difference alone render inapplicable. crucial distinction noted, prohibiting recognizes included, refusing included. dissent contending justification providing inapplicable sought. post, __. 373, (1976). recent suggests flux question Only few weeks ago, verdict constituted implied code, barred prosecution section premeditated White, 254 566, 577 (1998). reaching explained: "The Premeditated denominated statutes separate independent ways liability prosecuted.'' --- N.W.2d, ---- (slip op., 8). charge "is how [the defendant] single Therefore, alternate theories prosecuted Nebraska.'' Ibid. Given holding, "one offense''

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