Supreme Court of the United States
Beck v. Alabama
June 20, 1980447 U.S. 625
Summary
The Court held that Alabama could not impose the death penalty when the jury was barred from considering a supported lesser included noncapital offense. The prohibition increased the risk that the jury would convict or acquit for reasons unrelated to whether the State proved every element of the capital offense beyond a reasonable doubt, making the guilt determination insufficiently reliable in a capital case.
Holding
- Whether a capital defendant is constitutionally entitled to have the jury consider a supported lesser included noncapital offense.. When the evidence would support a lesser included noncapital offense, the Constitution prohibits imposing the death penalty under a procedure that bars the jury from considering that offense and forces a choice between conviction of the capital offense and acquittal.
Docket 78-6621
Cited authorities
- Rule 31
- 28 U.S.C. § 1257
- 28 U.S.C. § 1257
- Ala. Code §§ 13-11-2
Cited by
- (HC) Oquita v. Diaz
- (HC)Kakowski v. Pollard
- (HC) Ortega-Lara v. Hatton
- Hung Thanh Le, Appellant v. State of Oklahoma, Appellee
- Jackie Lee Willingham, Appellant v. the State of Oklahoma, Appellee
- Garry Michael Cheney, Appellant v. the State of Oklahoma, Appellee
- State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Braynard Purnell, Defendant-Appellant
- State v. Tony E. Lemon