State of Connecticut v. Todd Rizzo

Summary

The opinion rejects the defendant's challenges to his death sentence that are addressed in the supplied text. It holds that his waiver of a sentencing jury was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent; that the presiding judge was not constitutionally required to recuse himself; that the statutory aggravating factor was not unconstitutionally vague; and that the evidence sufficiently supported the aggravating-factor finding. The opinion's tail is truncated before the complete disposition and remaining claims are shown. Justice Zarella concurred while reserving criticism of the state constitutional framework, and Justice Norcott dissented because he would hold the death penalty unconstitutional under the Connecticut constitution and impose life imprisonment without release.