Lawrence v. Missouri Department of Corrections

How later courts describe this case

• upholding a similar instruction which equated reasonable doubt with "a serious doubt for which you could give good reason"
• two jurors properly dismissed for cause where age of the defendant would have impaired their ability to return the death penalty
• defendant murdered victim while attempting to rob him in his truck; earlier that day, defendant had shot and wounded another victim during the attempted perpetration of an armed robbery
• “Although Ms. McAdams and Ms. Lewis were
• B4theoretical supporters of the death penalty, a full reading of the voir dire clearly indicates they could not have imposed the penalty in this case.”
• "Although Ms. McAdams and Ms. Lewis were theoretical supporters of the death penalty, a full reading of the voir dire clearly indicates they could not have imposed the penalty in this case."
• State' s assertion that a juror appeared " weak, scary[,] and shaky on the death penalty" accepted as race -neutral reason when considered in the context of body language, etc.