Court Opinion

ID: 9784560
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 20:48:38.409939+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:35:56.237813
License: Public Domain

Justice KOURLIS
dissenting.
Today, the majority issues two companion cases dealing with section 18-1.4-102(1)(e), C.R.S. (2004): People v. Canister, No. 03SA170, 110 P.3d 380, 2005 WL 878525, slip op. (Colo. April 2005), and this case. In both cases, the majority concludes that the statute the General Assembly passed to establish a sentencing procedure for cases pending when Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002) was decided is special legislation in violation of the Colorado Constitution. Justice Coats and I dissented from that result in the Canister case.
Justice COATS does not participate in this case. However, I. respectfully dissent here for the same reasons outlined in the Canister dissent. I would uphold the legislation, reverse the trial court and allow the prosecution to. seek the death penalty in this case.