Court Opinion

ID: 9596688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:52:14.271575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:35.825918
License: Public Domain

Finney, Chief Justice:
I respectfully dissent.
In nay opinion, the giving of an Allen charge in the sentencing phase of a capital trial is reversible error. The sentencing phase differs from every other type of jury proceeding in that a unanimous verdict is not required in order to end the litigation. Instead, the death penalty statute provides that where the jury is unable to reach a unanimous recommendation, “the trial judge shall dismiss such jury and shall sentence the defendant to life imprisonment. . . .” Accordingly, I would reverse and remand for resentencing.
I am also concerned with the majority’s disposition of the claim that the trial judge should have instructed the jury not to reveal its vote and that the judge erred in giving an Allen charge knowing only one juror opposed the death sentence. While I agree that these issues were not raised below, it is apparent from this record that the trial judge never revealed the trial counsel that the notes reflected the jury’s division.