No. 20-7988

Robert Allen Poyson v. Arizona

Lower Court: Arizona
Docketed: 2021-05-11
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: aggravating-factors capital-sentencing causal-nexus constitutional-review death-penalty eighth-amendment individualized-sentencing mitigation-evidence non-statutory-mitigation
Key Terms:
DueProcess Punishment
Latest Conference: 2021-09-27
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Is the individualized capital sentencing requirement guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment violated when a State predetermines that in all cases only minimal weight is to be afforded non-statutory mitigation?

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Is the individualized capital sentencing requirement guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment violated when a State—whether by statute or courtimposed rule—predetermines that in all cases only minimal weight is to be afforded non-statutory mitigation, alleged to lack a causal nexus to the capital offense? 2. Whether the Arizona Supreme Court’s review of a death sentence satisfies the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments where it fails to consider whether the State has proved an aggravating factor? li

Docket Entries

2021-10-04
Petition DENIED.
2021-07-29
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/27/2021.
2021-07-26
Reply of petitioner Robert Poyson filed.
2021-07-12
Brief of respondent State of Arizona in opposition filed.
2021-05-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including July 12, 2021.
2021-05-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 10, 2021 to July 12, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-05-06
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due June 10, 2021)

Attorneys

Robert Poyson
Natman SchayeArizona Capital Representation Project, Petitioner
Natman SchayeArizona Capital Representation Project, Petitioner
State of Arizona
Ginger JarvisArizona Attorney General's Office, Respondent
Ginger JarvisArizona Attorney General's Office, Respondent
David Robert Cole — Respondent
David Robert Cole — Respondent