Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Johnson v. Florida

Johnson v. Fla., 454 U.S. 882 (1981)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1981-10-05
Topic
general

finding that a conviction does not need to be affirmed on appeal for purposes of finding the aggravating circumstance of "previously convicted of another capital offense" in death penalty sentencing | during testimony of prosecution witness, victim's father "lunged" toward defendant screaming, "He... he'll pay. You're liable ... you'll pay. You'll pay. You're liable. Oh! What you think ... oh you ... you're going to get it ... you." | during testimony of prosecution witness, victim’s father “lunged” toward defendant screaming, “He . .. he’ll pay. You’re liable ... you’ll pay. You’ll pay. You’re liable. Oh! What you think ... oh you ... you’re going to get it ... you.” | Greenawalt and fellow inmate Tison escaped prison and murdered four people, including a 22 month old baby | Greenawalt and fellow inmate Tison escaped prison and murdered four people, including a 22 month old baby | three others present besides victim at time of shootout not "many persons" within statutory aggravating factor | three others present besides victim at time of shootout not “many persons” within statutory aggravating factor | death penalty imposed on defendant who, with aid of companion, abducted, raped, robbed and pistol-whipped seven-months pregnant victim | death penalty imposed on defendant who, with aid of companion, abducted, raped, robbed and pistol-whipped seven-months pregnant victim | no mitigating factors found; death sentence affirmed upon finding that defendant had previous convictions punishable by life or death and that those previous convictions were violent felonies | death penalty found proportionate based upon (i)(4) and (i)(5) aggravators where defendant solicited Rickman to murder wife; upon re-sentencing on other grounds, life sentence imposed | no abuse of discretion when spectators and jurors were screened with metal detecting device | three persons besides victim present in store at time of shoot out | expert testimony should be excluded when the facts testified to are of such a nature as to not require any special knowledge or expertise in order for the judge or jury to form conclusions | permitting swabbing of hands for gunshot residue

Citator

Cited by
113 opinions

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Sup. Ct. Tenn.;

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Super. Ct. Ga., Butts County;

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Sup. Ct. Neb.; and

Sup. Ct. Fla. Certiorari denied. Reported below: No. 80-6610, 393 So. 2d 1069; No. 80-6614, 128 Ariz. 150, 624 P. 2d 828; No. 80-6671, 247 Ga. 119, 274 S. E. 2d 549; No. 80-6702, 28 Cal. 3d 935, 623 P. 2d 240; No. 80-6749, 247 Ga. 172, 274 S. E. 2d 317; No. 80-6786, 247 Ga. 219, 275 S. E. 2d 29; No. 80-6839, 247 Ga. 298, 275 S. E. 2d 52; No. 80-6844, 247 Ga. 276, 276 S. E. 2d 242; Nos. 80-6864 and 81-5062, 615 S. W. 2d 142; No. 80-6877, 247 Ga. 316, 276 S. E. 2d 15; No. 80-6949, 398 So. 2d 439; No. 81-5046, 397 So. 2d 277; No. 81-5048, 208 Neb. 568, 304 N. W. 2d 663; No. 81-5056, 208 Neb. 320, 303 N. W. 2d 490; No. 81-5157, 208 Neb. 639, 305 N. W. 2d 354; No. 81-5158, 397 So. 2d 648.