Strickland v. Washington

Holding an "error by counsel" doesn't "warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal proceeding" where in the context of the whole proceeding the identified error "had no effect on the judgment"

Apprendi v. New Jersey

Holding that “[o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt”

Blakely v. Washington

Holding that “[w]hen a judge inflicts punishment that the jury's verdict alone does not allow, the jury has not found all the facts ‘which the law makes essential to the punishment,’ and the judge exceeds his proper authority”

Jackson v. Virginia

Holding that courts conducting review of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction should view the "evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution"

Estelle v. McGuire

Holding that a federal habeas court may not reexamine state court determinations of state law questions

Albright v. Oliver

Holding that the plaintiff’s § 1983 claim failed where the plaintiff failed to establish that he was deprived of a substantive due process right secured by the Constitution

Brecht v. Abrahamson

Holding that when a court has "never squarely addressed the issue, and ha at most assumed" something in a prior decision, it is "free to address the issue on the merits"

Cunningham v. California

Holding that the "jury-trial guarantee proscribes a sentencing scheme that allows a judge to impose a sentence above the statutory maximum based on a fact, other than a prior conviction, not found by the jury or admitted by the defendant"

Kyles v. Whitley

Holding the State's disclosure obligation turns on the cumulative effect of all suppressed evidence favorable to the defense

Ring v. Arizona

Holding that “[i]f a State makes an increase in a defendant's authorized punishment contingent on the finding of a fact, that fact—no matter how the State labels it—must be found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt”

Section 16

Stating that the right to a "trial by jury is an inviolate right"

Section 2929.04 - Death penalty or imprisonment - aggravating and mitigating factors

Stating that the jury is to weigh against the aggravating circumstances, inter alia, "the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history, character, and background of the offender"

Section 13A-5-53 - Appellate review of death sentence; scope; remand; specific determinations to be made by court; authority of court following review

Requiring the appellate court to determine whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases

Section 17-10-30 - Procedure for imposition of death penalty generally

Authorizing the death penalty for those who commit murder and have prior convictions for "rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, or aggravated sexual battery"

Section 16-3-20 - Punishment for murder; separate sentencing proceeding when death penalty sought

Holding a person convicted of murder with aggravating circumstances is not eligible for parole

Section 17-10-35 - Review of death sentences by Supreme Court; forwarding of record and transcript; scope of review; written briefs and oral argument; similar cases to be included in decision; direct appeal to be consolidated with sentence review

Requiring a review of the sufficiency of the evidence supporting statutory aggravating circumstances

Section 16-3-25 - Punishment for murder; review by Supreme Court of imposition of death penalty

Providing trial by jury for capital defendant's resentencing unless the capital defendant waives trial by jury

Section 905.9 - Review on appeal

Section 19-2515 - SENTENCE IN CAPITAL CASES - SPECIAL SENTENCING PROCEEDING - STATUTORY AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES - SPECIAL VERDICT OR WRITTEN FINDINGS

Aggravating circumstance that "the defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life"

Section 5-4-603 - Findings required for death sentence - Harmless error review

Aggravating circumstances must justify a sentence of death beyond a reasonable doubt

Section 2280 - General

Listing section 3041 as a statutory reference