State v. DavisState v. Davis
Laurence E. Komp, P.O. Box 1785, Manchester, Missouri 63011, for defendant-appellant
Midwest Center for Justice, Ltd., Alan M. Freedman, P.O. Box 6528 Evanston, Illinois 60201, for defendant-appellant
John P. Parker, 988 East 185th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44119, for defendant-appellant
O P I N I O N
POWELL, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Von Clark Davis, appeals the sentence of death
{¶2} In 1969, Davis was convicted of one count of Shooting with Intent to Wound, for shooting at his estranged wife, Ernestine. In 1970, Davis stabbed Ernestine to death, and later pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he was released in 1980, and while on parole in 1983, Davis shot and killed his estranged girlfriend, Suzette Butler, outside an American Legion Post. An autopsy revealed that Butler died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to her head, and that the gun was located between four and 20 inches from her head when fired.
{¶3} The police investigation into Butler‘s murder revealed that on the day of the shooting, Davis approached two people for help in obtaining a gun and ammunition because he was unable to procure firearms due to his prior convictions for shooting at Ernestine and her subsequent death. Once in possession of the weapon and ammunition, Davis approached Butler at the Legion and the two went outside to talk. According to an eye-witness, as Butler and Davis spoke, Davis fired two shots at Butler‘s head, a third after Butler fell to the ground, and “after she was down, [Davis] bent down and shot her in the head.” Two eye-witnesses identified Davis as the shooter.
{¶4} Davis was indicted on one count of aggravated murder, with the aggravating circumstance being his prior conviction for killing his wife, and one count of having a weapon under disability. Davis elected to have a three-judge panel hear his case, and waived his right to a jury. During trial, Davis raised inconsistencies in the eye-witness accounts of the shooting, and claimed that he had purchased the
{¶5} The three-judge panel (Original Panel) found Davis guilty, and after the penalty-phase hearing, imposed the death penalty. This court affirmed Davis’ conviction and sentence in State v. Davis (May 27, 1986), Butler App. No. CA84-06-071 (Davis I). On appeal, the Ohio Supreme Court affirmed Davis’ conviction, but vacated his sentence and remanded for re-sentencing because the Original Panel improperly considered non-statutory aggravating circumstances during the penalty phase. State v. Davis (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 361 (Davis II).
{¶6} On remand, the Original Panel again imposed the death penalty, but did so after denying Davis’ request to consider new mitigation factors such as his good behavior in prison since the time of Butler‘s murder. This court affirmed the Original Panel‘s re-sentence in State v. Davis (Oct. 29, 1990), Butler App. No. CA89-09-123 (Davis III), as did the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Davis (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 44 (Davis IV). Davis later filed an appeal after his petition for postconviction relief was denied within the common pleas court, and we affirmed the decision in State v. Davis (Sept. 30, 1996), Butler App. No. CA95-07-124 (Davis V).
{¶7} After exhausting the state appellate process, Davis filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. While the district court denied his petition, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and remanded with instructions that the panel consider Davis’ new mitigation evidence that was left unconsidered after the first remand in Davis II. Davis v. Coyle (C.A. 6 2007), 475 F.3d 761 (Davis VI).
{¶8} During the passage of time between the appeals, one judge from the
Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶10} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN VIOLATION OF THE EIGHTH AND SIXTH AMENDMENT AND DUE PROCESS TO ALLOW A 25-YEAR OLD, STALE JURY WAIVER TO STAND WHEN THERE WAS A NEW PENALTY HEARING.”
Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶12} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT PRECLUDING THE DEATH PENALTY AND ENFORCING THE THEN EXISTING PROVISIONS OF O.R.C. 2929.03(C)(2)(a).”
{¶13} In Davis’ first assignment of error, he argues that the New Panel erred in not granting his motion to withdraw his jury waiver, and in his third, that the New Panel did not have the option to consider the death penalty under a since-modified provision of
{¶14} After Davis was first indicted for aggravated murder and having weapons under disability, he moved to sever the counts, arguing that the jury would be prejudiced by knowledge of his prior conviction for murdering Ernestine. Davis argued that if the murder charge was heard separately from the weapons under disability charge, and because the judge would not have to make a finding regarding
{¶15} According to
{¶16} In the past, Davis has challenged the validity of his waiver, and in the process, raised multiple challenges on appeal. However, each reviewing court has upheld the validity of the waiver, finding that Davis made it knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. In our past review of Davis’ appeals, this court has noted that Davis’ habitual challenges regarding his jury waiver were barred by the doctrines of res judicata or law of the case. We find those same doctrines apply in Davis’ current appeal.
{¶17} “Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars a convicted defendant who was represented by counsel from raising and litigating in any proceeding except an appeal from that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or could have been raised by the defendant at the trial, which resulted in that judgment of conviction, or on an appeal from that judgment.” State v. Szefcyk, 77 Ohio St.3d 93, 95, 1996-Ohio-337. (Emphasis sic.)
{¶18} Davis argues that res judicata does not apply because he has not been properly convicted in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, and cites State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St.3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330, for the proposition that his final conviction has not been entered properly. However, Baker was specific to resolving a certified conflict regarding what a judgment of conviction must include pursuant to
{¶19} The Baker court settled the certified conflict by finding that “a judgment of conviction is a final appealable order under
{¶20} A review of Davis’ earliest appeals reveals that he failed to directly challenge his jury waiver. Because he could have challenged his jury waiver on due process or other grounds within his first two appeals, the doctrine of res judicata applies to his current challenge. On appeal to this court in Davis I, Davis argued that “the court erred in denying defendant‘s motion to bifurcate the trial and to sever the charges,” but did not otherwise challenge the validity of his wavier. Davis I at 5. On appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court in Davis II, Davis again argued that the trial court should have granted his motion to sever, and that by denying such motion, he was “forced to waive the jury trial,” but did not otherwise challenge the overall validity of the waiver itself. 38 Ohio St.3d at 363.
{¶21} Both this court and the Ohio Supreme Court rejected Davis’ claim that he was forced into signing the jury waiver by virtue of the trial court‘s denial of his motion to sever. According to the doctrine of res judicata, Davis is barred from challenging the validity of his jury waiver in any other capacity or alleging that his due process rights were violated because those arguments should have been raised on his first appeal from the Original Panel‘s judgment.
{¶22} “The ‘law of the case’ doctrine provides that the decision of a reviewing court in a case remains the law of that case on the legal questions involved for all subsequent proceedings in the case at both the trial and reviewing levels. * * * Thus, the decision of an appellate court in a prior appeal will ordinarily be followed in a later appeal in the same case and court. Absent extraordinary circumstances, such as an intervening decision by the Ohio Supreme Court, an inferior court has no discretion to disregard the mandate of a superior court in a prior appeal in the same
{¶23} Once Davis’ death sentence from the Original Panel was vacated and the case was remanded for re-sentencing, Davis began his direct challenges against the waiver. Time and again, and whichever court reviewed the claim, the waiver withstood scrutiny and has been upheld in each instance. According to the law of the case, as established by this court and others, Davis’ waiver is valid.
{¶24} Davis argued on his second appeal to this court that his waiver was “invalid because he was not aware of the consequences of such a waiver, i.e. that he could be resentenced to death if the original death sentence was reversed.” Davis III at 8. In overruling Davis’ assignment of error, we concluded that “there is no evidence in the record, however, that [Davis] was ever misinformed about the consequences of his waiver, or that the wavier was other than knowing, intelligent and voluntary when made. The fact that subsequent decisional law may or may not have affected the tactical decision to waive the right to trial by jury provides no avenue of relief for [Davis] at this stage of the proceedings.” Id. at 8-9.
{¶25} On appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court in Davis IV, Davis argued that he should have been permitted to withdraw his jury waiver because “he did not make an ‘informed choice’ between being tried by a panel or by a jury because he was not aware at the time he signed the wavier that his choice between panel or jury could ultimately affect his eligibility to be resentenced to death.” 63 Ohio St.3d at 48-49. However, the court rejected Davis’ argument, finding instead that “nothing in the record suggests that [Davis] was misinformed regarding the distinctions between trial by panel or trial by jury at the time [Davis] signed the 1984 waiver ***.” Id. at 49.
{¶27} We also note that when Davis appealed the trial court‘s denial of his petition for postconviction relief, he argued that his jury trial wavier was made unknowingly, and set forth several reasons for its invalidity. Davis argued he had not been informed that two of the judges on the Original Panel had represented a mortgage company in a 1970 foreclosure action against him, that he was never informed that “under
{¶28} At each stage of Davis’ appellate proceedings and his request for post-conviction relief, he has, either directly or indirectly, challenged the jury waiver for a
{¶29} We reiterate that the trial court, before accepting Davis’ waiver, performed a colloquy advising Davis of his rights and what he was giving up by executing his waiver. While it is true that Davis could not have necessarily foreseen 26 years of court proceedings, the Ohio Supreme Court has held that “a defendant need not have a complete or technical understanding of the jury trial right in order to knowingly and intelligently waive it. Nor is the trial court required to inform the defendant of all the possible implications of waiver. State v. Ketterer, 111 Ohio St.3d 70, 2006-Ohio-5283, ¶68. The court went on to quote the United States Supreme Court‘s statement that “the law ordinarily considers a waiver knowing, intelligent, and sufficiently aware if the defendant fully understands the nature of the right and how it would likely apply in general in the circumstances – even though the defendant may not know the specific detailed consequences of invoking it.” United States v. Ruiz (2002), 536 U.S. 622, 629, 122 S.Ct. 2450. (Emphasis sic.)
{¶30} Holding Davis to his valid waiver does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment or otherwise violate his due process rights, as the mere passage of time
{¶31} In support of this contention, Davis relies on State v. McGee (1998), 128 Ohio App.3d 541, 545, in which the Third District Court of Appeals ruled that McGee was entitled to withdraw her jury waiver after the Ohio Supreme Court reversed her conviction “on the basis that she was neither charged nor found guilty of an essential element of the offense.” The court went on to state, “we further conclude that McGee‘s previous waiver of a jury trial is also inherently revoked by the reversal of the conviction and the new indictment in this case.” Id.
{¶32} Unlike McGee, Davis’ conviction has never been reversed. The courts in Davis I and II directly considered whether his convictions were supported by the manifest weight of the evidence, and affirmed the Original Panel‘s finding of guilt. The state proved the essential elements of Davis’ aggravated murder charge, and was never directed to amend the indictment or prove his guilt over again. Davis misapplies the holding in McGee and asks this court to allow him to withdraw his waiver because there are new facts and evidence that would be presented at his re-sentencing. However, the holding in McGee was specific to an instance where the state was required to go back and amend the indictment and “proceed anew from arraignment on the amended indictment to a new trial.” Id. at 545. We therefore find McGee distinguishable from Davis’ case, and do not agree with Davis that his “case
{¶33} In addition to his reliance on McGee, Davis also cites the Sixth Circuit‘s opinion in Davis VI for the proposition that because the sentencing proceeding was a separate trial, he should have been permitted to withdraw his jury waiver. The court expressed its opinion that the penalty phase was the “functional equivalent” of a trial and conveyed its concerns regarding the age of the waiver. However, the court did not consider the impact Ohio‘s capital statutes have on jury waiver, or place the wavier in context of Ohio law. Regardless of the Sixth Circuit‘s concerns, we need not decide the issue of whether the penalty proceeding is a separate trial because the Ohio legislature has statutorily foreclosed the possibility of withdrawing a jury waiver after a panel of three judges determines guilt.
{¶34} As we previously recognized,
{¶35} Specifically,
{¶36} The Ohio Supreme Court‘s analysis of a capital defendant‘s rights upon pleading guilty before a three-judge panel provides guidance as we analyze the case at bar. In State v. Ketterer, Ketterer waived his right to a jury and pled guilty to, among other crimes, aggravated murder. 2006-Ohio-5283 at ¶10. After the three-judge panel accepted Ketterer‘s guilty plea, it sentenced him to death. On appeal, Ketterer argued that the trial court denied his constitutional right to have a jury determine his penalty. The court rejected his argument, finding instead, that Ketterer had knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to a jury, and had therefore “acknowledged that he was waiving any right to have a jury decide what penalty to impose for the aggravated murder. Having freely relinquished his right, he cannot now argue that the trial court denied that right.” Id. at ¶123.
{¶37} In addition to the application of waiver, the court went on to state, “further, the applicable statute,
{¶38} The court also noted that it had previously issued a writ of prohibition against a trial judge who had “created a hybrid procedure – a jury sentencing hearing to make certain findings upon which [the trial judge] would base his sentencing decision. We held that by creating a nonstatutory procedure to convene a jury, the
{¶39} Although Ketterer pled guilty, whereas Davis was found guilty by the Original Panel, the statutory provision in
{¶40} As we‘ve previously discussed,
{¶41} Justice Holmes’ concurrence in Davis II, (decided in 1988) aptly foreshadowed the current issue, and stated persuasively that “the legislature was apparently not concerned about the possibility that the composition or the mental attitude of the three-judge panel may have changed on remand, as
{¶42} According to
{¶43} Although the statute clearly authorizes a new panel to consider the sentence, Davis nonetheless challenges the application of the statute, and argues that his case should be determined under the version of
{¶44} According to Davis’ argument in his third assignment of error, should this court apply the current version of
{¶45}
{¶46} According to
{¶47} Regarding the second factor, Davis contends that the statute is substantive because once he signed his jury waiver, he had a “vested right” to have his guilt and sentence determined by the Original Panel. However, we disagree, and find the challenged statute remedial in nature.
{¶48} The Walls court defined remedial as “those laws affecting merely the methods and procedures by which rights are recognized, protected and enforced, not the rights themselves.” 2002-Ohio-5059 at ¶15. The court went on to further clarify what constitutes a remedial statute, and explained that “it is generally true that laws
{¶49} The change to
{¶50} We also note that much like Walls, Davis was on notice that should a judge from the Original Panel become unable to participate in sentencing, another judge would take his place. According to
{¶51} Even before the Ohio Assembly codified the ability of a new panel to participate in the sentencing proceeding of a capital case in
{¶52} For the forgoing reasons, the amendment is remedial and moreover, curative, in that the legislators could have expressly authorized a new panel to hear a case when necessary, but did not add the express provision until the amendment. See Burgett v. Norris (1874), 25 Ohio St. 308, 317 (finding statutes curative when the legislature “could cure and render valid, by remedial retrospective statutes, that which it could have authorized in the first instance by proper enactment“).
{¶53} Specific to Davis’ contention that he had a vested right in having the Original Panel hear his case, we note that Davis does not challenge the finding of guilt by the Original Panel. His challenges are directed to the penalty phase, and his waiver as it related to the New Panel once the Original Panel could no longer be reconvened. While it is true that his waiver form listed the three judges who would comprise the panel, and the judges were named in open court during the colloquy, Davis signed and executed the waiver form, which specifically stated that “I am waiving said trial by jury, and making this election to be tried by a court composed of three judges.” (Emphasis added.) The trial court then concluded that “this jury waiver and election to be tried by a three-judge panel is hereby accepted and entered upon the journal of this court.” (Emphasis added.) These two specific statements demonstrate that Davis was waiving his right to a jury so that he could be tried before a three-judge panel, not that he was entitled to have only the Original Panel hear his case.
{¶54} Further, his arguments on appeal clearly demonstrate that Davis did not waive his right to a jury in order to have his case heard before the three judges who comprised the Original Panel, and who, we note, ultimately found him guilty and
{¶55} Contrary to his contention that he had a vested right in having his case heard by the Original Panel, a defendant‘s right to waive his right to a jury is just that. It is a right to have his case heard before a panel of judges in lieu of a jury. It is not a right to choose which judges will hear the case. Davis’ right to avoid having a jury determine his guilt and penalty, and instead have his case heard before an impartial, highly skilled, and knowledgeable panel of judges, remained exactly the same before and after the amendment. The right vested upon waiver, avoiding what Davis feared would be a prejudiced jury, was not compromised by the amendment in the least.
{¶56} While not directly on point, we do note that the Walls court addressed the effect a jurisdictional rule has on retroactivity, and stated “an application of a new jurisdictional rule usually takes away no substantive right but simply changes the
{¶57} We also find that the amendment is not in violation of the ex post facto clause of the federal constitution. As stated by the Supreme Court, “although the Latin phrase ‘ex post facto’ literally encompasses any law passed ‘after the fact,’ it has long been recognized by this Court that the constitutional prohibition on ex post facto laws applies only to penal statutes which disadvantage the offender affected by them.” Collins v. Youngblood (1990), 497 U.S. 37, 41, 110 S.Ct. 2715. The court went on to list a four-part test when determining whether a statute is ex post facto. “1st. Every law that makes an action done before the passing of the law, and which was innocent when done, criminal; and punishes such action. 2d. Every law that aggravates a crime, or makes it greater than it was, when committed. 3d. Every law that changes the punishment, and inflicts a greater punishment, than the law annexed to the crime, when committed. 4th. Every law that alters the legal rules of evidence, and receives less, or different, testimony, than the law required at the time of the commission of the offence, in order to convict the offender” Id. at 42. (Emphasis sic.)
{¶58} Davis asserts that
{¶59} However, the statute, former or amended, does not lend weight to Davis’ interpretation. There is no language in the previous version that directed a court to enter a life sentence if the panel could not perform its duties. Nor does Davis’ argument take into consideration that
{¶60} The Ohio Supreme Court addressed Davis’ previous claim that once his sentenced was vacated, he could only be sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal in Davis II, Davis cited the court‘s holding in State v. Penix (1987), 32 Ohio St.3d 369, in which the court held that a defendant whose death sentence is vacated after a jury trial is not subject to re-imposition of the death penalty upon resentencing. (As previously mentioned, the Ohio Legislature has since modified
{¶61} While the court did not specifically state that an entirely new panel could re-sentence Davis to death, it nonetheless stated that upon remand to the trial court, the state could seek the death penalty, and further refused to extend its holding in Penix to instances involving a panel. No statement by the Ohio Legislature or our
{¶62} Under the former version of the statute, Davis was subject to either life imprisonment or death. Under the amended version of the statute, he was subject to either life imprisonment or death. The punishment under either version of the statute is the same, and was not increased due to the amendment in any way.
{¶63} Having found that Davis’ jury waiver is still valid, and that
{¶64} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶65} “THE THREE JUDGE PANEL ERRED IN NOT CONSIDERING AND GIVING EFFECT TO CERTAIN MITIGATING EVIDENCE.”
{¶66} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶67} “APPELLANT‘S DEATH SENTENCE IS DISPORPORTIONATE (sic) AND INAPPROPRIATE.”
{¶68} In his second and fourth assignments of error, Davis argues that the New Panel erred by not considering or giving the proper effect to his mitigation evidence, and that the panel‘s sentence was improper. There is no merit to these arguments.
{¶69}
{¶70} In addition to the catch-all provision within the seventh factor,
{¶71} The Ohio Supreme Court has further clarified the standard expected of a
“*** [W]hile
R.C. 2929.04(B)(7) evinces the legislature‘s intent that a defendant in a capital case be given wide latitude to introduce any evidence the defendant considers to be mitigating, this does not mean that the court is necessarily required to accept as mitigating everything offered by the defendant and admitted. The fact that an item of evidence is admissible underR.C. 2929.04(B)(7) does not automatically mean that it must be given any weight.” State v. Steffen (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 111, 129.
{¶72} The court went on to give an example of a defendant‘s choice to introduce testimony from a high school teacher that he behaved well in school and was prepared in class. The court addressed this hypothetical mitigating evidence and stated that “the jury, or the court in its own independent weighing process, may properly choose to assign absolutely no weight to this evidence if it considers it to be non-mitigating. Only that evidence which lessens the moral culpability of the offender or diminishes the appropriateness of death as the penalty can truly be considered mitigating. Evidence which is not mitigating is not entitled to any weight as a mitigating factor in determining whether such factors outweigh the aggravating circumstances.” Id.
{¶73} While the trier of fact may decide to assign no weight to the mitigating evidence, it must, nonetheless, consider the evidence. According to the Supreme Court, in capital cases, “the sentencer may not refuse to consider or be precluded from considering any relevant mitigating evidence.” Skipper v. South Carolina (1986), 476 U.S. 1, 4, 106 S.Ct. 1669. It was the Original Panel‘s refusal to consider Davis’ new mitigation evidence that resulted in a Skipper error and entitled him to
{¶74} Upon remand, “a decisionmaker need not weigh mitigating factors in a particular manner. The process of weighing mitigating factors, as well as the weight, if any, to assign a given factor is a matter for the discretion of the individual decisionmaker.” State v. Newton, 108 Ohio St.3d 13, 2006-Ohio-81, ¶60.
{¶75} Davis claims that the New Panel erred by failing to consider relevant mitigating factors, just as the Original Panel had done after the Davis II remand. However, a review of the record indicates otherwise. The New Panel considered the following mitigating factors: Davis’ borderline personality disorder, alcohol abuse, love and support of family members and friends, the testimony of Davis’ daughter that she has forgiven her father for killing her mother, Davis’ good behavior in prison, childhood and family experience, and the impact of each upon Davis’ personality development and mental health, remorse and apology, age (62), probability of no release from prison, whether a sentence of life in prison would bring closure to the victim‘s family, and the savings to taxpayers should a life sentence be imposed.
{¶76} The New Panel noted that in relation to these factors, it heard evidence from Davis’ family and friends, including his daughter, explaining Davis’ positive aspects and importance in their lives. The New Panel also considered testimony from prison personnel regarding Davis’ good behavior and that his sole instance of misconduct occurred in 1990.
{¶77} Cynthia Mausser, Chairperson of the Ohio Parole Board, also testified and described the Parole Board‘s various policies and procedures. Mausser testified that it was “unlikely” that Davis would be paroled at the first opportunity and would “likely” spend a substantial portion of his life in prison. However, Mausser could not
{¶78} The New Panel also heard from a clinical psychologist and certified addiction specialist who testified that Davis had a borderline personality disorder and alcohol dependence. The psychologist testified that Davis’ personality disorder and alcohol dependence helped to explain how or why Davis could kill Butler, but did not otherwise excuse or justify his actions. According to the psychologist, Davis’ good behavior while in prison is not surprising because individuals with borderline personality disorders function well in a highly-structured environment, such as prison.
{¶79} The state presented evidence that the aggravating circumstance was that Davis had been convicted of murdering Ernestine, an essential element of which was the purposeful killing of another. The state re-introduced the journal entry from 1971 wherein Davis was convicted for second degree murder, as well as Davis’ original stipulation to the entry of conviction.
{¶80} Davis now challenges the way in which the New Panel weighed the evidence, and asserts that the New Panel‘s decision to assign little or no weight to some of the mitigating factors rendered the factors unconsidered. However, as noted above, the Ohio Supreme Court has specifically stated that while a trier of fact need consider the evidence, it need not accept as mitigating everything offered by the defendant, and further, may properly choose to assign absolutely no weight to this evidence if it considers it to be nonmitigating.
{¶81} In the sentencing opinion, the New Panel considered the aggravating circumstance and afforded Davis’ previous conviction for killing Ernestine “great
{¶82} The New Panel noted that the testimony offered to show that Davis is loved and supported by family is not atypical, and therefore did not deserve significant weight. The New Panel also considered the fact that Davis’ daughter testified that she had forgiven her father for killing her mother, but found this factor deserved very little weight. According to the sentencing opinion, the New Panel also considered the testimony regarding Davis’ dysfunctional family and childhood experiences to be unconvincing and entitled to little or no weight. The New Panel also found discrepancies between testimony from Davis’ family and the psychologist‘s report. It nonetheless assumed that even if Davis’ background contributed in some way to the development of his borderline personality disorder or alcohol dependence, the psychologist‘s diagnosis was entitled to little weight.
{¶83} Regarding Mausser‘s testimony, the New Panel determined that her opinion that Davis was unlikely to be released was “highly speculative and unconvincing.” The New Panel, therefore, afforded no weight to Mausser‘s testimony. While the panel afforded no weight to the possible savings to tax payers, the record is clear that the New Panel considered the evidence because it overruled the state‘s objection that the cost issue should not be considered by the panel. The New Panel also considered and afforded little weight to Davis’ good behavior while in prison, his advanced age, and his remorse and apology for murdering Butler.
{¶84} After considering and weighing all of the evidence, the New Panel found that the aggravating circumstance outweighed the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced Davis to death. While Davis disagrees with the amount of weight, (whether it was great, little, or none), the panel assigned to each factor, the fact that the panel assigned less weight to the factors than he believes they deserve is not the same as the panel failing to consider the evidence. See Newton, 2006-Ohio-81 at ¶60 (dismissing Newton‘s claim that the trier of fact excluded relevant mitigating evidence where “the panel was aware of Newton‘s guilty plea, and its decision to give his guilty plea less weight than Newton argues it deserves is not equivalent to excluding the plea from evidence“).
{¶85} We also briefly address Davis’ contention that the New Panel erred because it assigned different weight to the factors than did the Ohio Supreme Court during its reviews in Davis II and IV. For example, while the New Panel found that Mausser‘s testimony was entitled to no weight, the Davis IV court “considered the probability that [Davis] would never be released from prison if he were to be sentenced to life imprisonment” and gave that factor “some weight.” 63 Ohio St.3d 51.
{¶86} However, and for this very reason, the Ohio Supreme Court has specifically stated that “a decisionmaker need not weigh mitigating factors in a particular manner. The process of weighing mitigating factors, as well as the weight, if any, to assign a given factor is a matter for the discretion of the individual decisionmaker.” Newton, 2006-Ohio-81 at ¶60. The fact that the New Panel assigned no weight to testimony it found highly speculative and unconvincing was within its discretion, just as the Ohio Supreme Court may assign a different amount of
{¶87} Regarding our own review of the proportionality and appropriateness of the sentence, we are guided by
{¶88} Specific to our independent review, we will address Davis’ mitigation evidence as it compared to the aggravating circumstance. Once again, we reiterate the evidence Davis presented in mitigation.
{¶89} Davis presented testimony from the psychologist that he suffers from a borderline personality disorder. We give this evidence little weight because it is widely recognized that personality disorders are commonplace in murder cases. See State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 33, 1997-Ohio-243, (noting that the court “normally has accorded little weight to ‘personality disorders’ as a mitigating ‘other factor‘“). Furthermore, the psychologist testified that whatever disorder Davis had, it did not excuse or justify his actions. Similarly, Davis’ dependence on alcohol is entitled to little weight for similar reasons. See State v. Johnson, 88 Ohio St.3d 95, 2000-Ohio-276 (finding Johnson‘s personality disorder and drug dependence entitled to little weight).
{¶90} Davis also presented testimony from his mother, stepfather, younger sister, younger brother, daughter, and two friends regarding the positive aspects of
{¶91} Regarding the testimony of Davis’ daughter that she has forgiven her father for killing her mother, we afford this factor little weight. While this forgiveness was undoubtedly cherished by Davis, we fail to see how a third-party‘s state of mind or willingness to forgive lessens the moral culpability of the offender or diminishes the appropriateness of death as the penalty. Moreover, Davis’ daughter testified that she forgave her father so that she could displace the burden of hate she had carried for many years. This forgiveness, born of a daughter‘s desire to move on with her life, does not otherwise mitigate Davis’ action.
{¶92} Davis’ good behavior in prison, however, does speak to Davis himself, and his choice to act in accordance with the prison‘s rules and regulations. We consider the testimony of the prison personnel that Davis has had a positive record during his incarceration and has even earned extended privileges while on death row. We afford this factor some weight.
{¶93} We have considered Davis’ childhood and family experience, and the impact of each upon Davis’ personality development and mental health, and afford this factor some weight. Much like substance abuse and personality disorders, negative childhood experiences are commonplace in death penalty cases. We
{¶94} We lend little weight to Davis’ remorse and apology. Davis fought his conviction, claiming that a third party killed Butler and that he was innocent of the crime. Years later, Davis offered an unsworn statement to the New Panel, apologizing for his conduct, and called Butler‘s murder “nothing but an evil act by me.” However, this remorse does little to alleviate Davis’ moral culpability.
{¶95} We have considered that Davis is a man of advanced age, and apply no weight to this factor. At the time of his resentencing, he was 62 years old. Unlike the capital jurisprudence regarding juveniles, there is nothing inherently mitigating about sentencing a 62-year-old man to death. Davis was 36 when he was sentenced to death the first time, and nothing in the passage of time has increased the mitigation weight we will afford his age.
{¶96} According to Cynthia Mausser‘s testimony, Davis is “unlikely” to be paroled at his first opportunity. We afford this evidence little weight. Mausser was unable to definitively state that Davis would never be paroled and instead, indicated that should he become parole-eligible, he would be considered for parole on multiple occasions.
{¶97} We afford no weight to evidence that imposing a life sentence in lieu of a death sentence would save taxpayers money or provide closure for the victim‘s family. We have considered Davis’ contention that housing a prisoner in general population of a prison is less expensive than housing a death row inmate. However, Ohio‘s capital sentencing scheme does not place importance on the financial burden either execution or life imprisonment has on the citizens of Ohio. We find Davis’ concern for the state‘s budget incongruous with his request to remain supported the rest of his life, or however long he would be imprisoned, by the taxpayers of Ohio. Similarly, Davis’ contention that a life sentence would bring closure to Butler‘s family deserves little weight. The Butler family‘s state of mind has nothing to do with Davis’ moral culpability and is not mitigating evidence we will lend significant weight to.
{¶98} We find that the aggravating circumstance is entitled to great weight. Previous to killing Butler, Davis killed his estranged wife Ernestine. He then pled guilty to second-degree murder, an essential element of which was the purposeful killing of another. See Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d at 34 (noting that “a prior murder conviction can be even more grave than other aggravating circumstances“).
{¶99} Upon review of all of the facts and evidence, including all of the new mitigation evidence that has arisen since the time of Davis’ incarceration for Butler‘s murder, we find that the aggravating factor outweighs the mitigating evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶100} Davis was sentenced to death for an offense committed before January 1, 1995. Therefore, in compliance with
{¶101} After performing our statutory duty under
{¶102} According to
{¶103} Based on our discussion of Davis’ second assignment of error, we have established that the New Panel properly weighed the aggravating circumstance Davis was found guilty of committing, and the mitigating factors. We are also persuaded from the record that the aggravated circumstance for which Davis was found guilty, his prior conviction of murder in the second degree, outweighs the
{¶104} According to
{¶105} A review of the cases in which this court has found the death penalty appropriate demonstrates that the penalty imposed in the case at bar is not excessive or disproportionate. In State v. DePew (June 29, 1987), Butler App. No. CA85-07-075, we reviewed a death sentence imposed after DePew was convicted for killing three people and setting fire to their home during the commission of a robbery. In mitigation, we considered that DePew had never been arrested or convicted previously, he was helpful to others, and he did not initially intend to kill anyone during the burglary. We upheld the sentence of death.
{¶106} In State v. Lawson (June 4, 1990), Clermont App. No. CA88-05-044, Lawson was sentenced to death after he kidnapped and later shot and killed a man who implicated Lawson and his brother for numerous criminal activities. In mitigation, we considered that Lawson had an extensive history of alcohol and drug abuse, was sexually abused by a relative as a teen, had a low IQ, reacted impulsively to stress, and was described as being very close to and protective of his family. We upheld the
{¶107} In State v. Webb (May 24, 1993), Clermont App. No. CA91-08-053, we reviewed the sentence of death imposed upon Webb after he killed his son by setting fire to the family home. We weighed Webb‘s aggravating circumstance against the evidence that he was only twelve years old when his father, who he idolized, died in an automobile accident, that he had a low IQ, that he was devastated after his first wife died in an automobile accident, and that friends and relatives of Webb and his deceased son pleaded for a life sentence because they felt that Webb could still contribute positively to their lives. We found that the mitigating evidence did not outweigh the aggravating circumstance.
{¶108} In State v. Williams (Nov. 2, 1992), Butler App. Nos. CA91-04-060, CA92-06-110, Williams challenged the death sentence imposed upon him after he shot and killed a cab driver during the commission of a robbery. In mitigation, Williams offered evidence that his family relationships with his mother and his maternal grandmother were good, that he was helpful around the house to both his mother and grandmother, that he had a fairly happy childhood, but that he had also experienced difficulties in life due to the lack of contact with his natural father who barely acknowledged his existence. Williams also offered testimony from a psychiatrist who diagnosed him as having paranoid schizophrenia which “played a role” in his actions the night of the shooting. We found the death penalty appropriate.
{¶109} In State v. Loza (Apr. 19, 1993), Butler App. No. CA 91-11-198, we considered the appropriateness of the death penalty where Loza shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend‘s family after they refused to allow her to move to California with him. Loza offered the following mitigation evidence: he was born in Guadalajara,
{¶110} State v. McGuire (Apr. 15, 1996), Preble App. No. CA95-01-001, presented an opportunity for this court to review a death sentence imposed upon McGuire after he raped and killed his victim. In mitigation, McGuire provided evidence that his childhood was unstable, he did not have a close relationship with either parent, that he started using drugs at an early age, and that he had a number of special needs as a child that went unidentified and untreated in his adolescence. McGuire also presented evidence that he had adjusted well to prison life, was educating himself, and that he received special privileges in prison for his good behavior. This court found the death penalty appropriate.
{¶111} Finally, in State v. Benge (Dec. 5, 1994), Butler App. No. CA93-06-116, we reviewed the death sentence imposed on Benge after he killed his girlfriend during an argument and attempted to conceal her body. Benge presented evidence
{¶112} Other than Davis I and III, this court has not considered the death penalty in an instance where the defendant‘s aggravating circumstance was a prior murder conviction under
{¶113} A review of the aforementioned cases demonstrates that the defendants in these cases offered mitigation evidence of similar import as Davis has offered, and that in each instances, death was found to be an appropriate penalty. We therefore find that Davis’ sentence of death is not excessive or disproportionate.
{¶114} After fulfilling the review requirements set forth in
{¶115} Assignment of Error No. 5:
{¶116} “TWENTY-SIX YEARS ON OHIO‘S DEATH ROW CONSTITUTES
{¶117} Davis contends, in his final assignment of error, that spending 26 years on death row is cruel and unusual punishment, and further violates international law. These arguments lack merit.
{¶118} According to the
{¶119} Davis argues that his lengthy stay on death row constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, and bases his proposition on a memorandum from Justice Stevens expressing his dissent from denial of certiorari in Lackey v. Texas (1995), 514 U.S. 1045, 115 S.Ct. 1421. However, the memorandum is not binding on this, or any, court. It merely expressed Justice Steven‘s desire to have the court address at what point the state‘s desire for retribution is satisfied by imprisonment as opposed to execution.
{¶120} The fact that the Supreme Court chose not to accept a case in which the defendant had been on death row for 17 years, does not aid Davis’ argument that his time spent on death row constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The Ohio Supreme Court, in Davis’ own appeals and countless others, has upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty and definitively holds that capital punishment does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. See State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136. We fail to see how punishment deemed constitutional becomes
{¶121} We are in no way blaming Davis for executing his right of appeal; appeals that we note have been successful. However, if Davis hopes to avail himself of these rights, and assuming future appeals of our current decision, he cannot claim that taking the time to thoroughly address and exhaust all possible appeals has violated his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. See McKenzie v. Day (C.A.9, 1995), 57 F.3d 1461, 1467 (noting that “most of these procedural safeguards have been imposed by the Supreme Court in recognition of the fact that the common law practice of imposing swift and certain executions could result in arbitrariness and error in carrying out the death penalty“).
{¶122} We also note that several other state and federal courts have considered and rejected similar arguments. See Thompson v. State (Fla.2009), 3 So.3d 1237 (dismissing Thompson‘s claim that 31 years on death row was cruel and unusual punishment); McKenzie, 57 F.3d 1461 (rejecting McKenzie‘s argument that 20 years on death row constitutes cruel and unusual punishment); White v. Johnson (C.A.5, 1996), 79 F.3d 432 (overruling Johnson‘s claim that 17 years on death row was a violation of the Eight Amendment); Ex parte Bush (Ala.1997), 695 So.2d 138 (declining to find a 16-year stay on death row a violation of the Eighth Amendment); and Stafford v. Ward (C.A.10, 1995), 59 F.3d 1025 (denying an Eighth Amendment challenge to spending 15 years on death row).
{¶123} More recently, the Supreme Court was again offered the opportunity to address whether a lengthy stay of 32 years on death row constitutes cruel and
{¶124} Davis also contends that his time on death row, as well as the death penalty in general, violates international law specific to Article VII of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Sixth Circuit has explained that international law agreements and treaties to which the United States belong (such as the International Covenant and Charter of the Organization of American States) do not prohibit the death penalty. Buell v. Mitchell (C.A.6, 2001), 274 F.3d 337. “Moreover, the United States has approved each agreement with reservations that preserve the power of each of the several states and of the United States, under the Constitution.” Id. at 371. The effect of this reservation is that United States courts are not bound by international law on the issue of capital punishment where the death penalty is upheld as constitutional.
{¶125} In State v. Williams, we discussed the application and effect of international law on death penalty issues, and quoted the Fifth Circuit for the proposition that “[h]ow these issues are to be determined is settled under American Constitutional law. Not a single argument is advanced directed to proving that the United States in these international agreements agreed to provide additional factors for decision or to modify the decisional factors required by the United States Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court.” Butler App. Nos. CA91-04-060, CA92-06-110, 19, citing Celestine v. Butler (C.A.5, 1987), 823 F.2d 74, 79-80, certiorari denied (1987), 483 U.S. 1036, 108 S.Ct. 6.
{¶126} The Buell Court specifically noted that in relation to the International Covenant‘s Article VII, “the United States agreed to abide by this prohibition only to the extent that the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments ban cruel and unusual punishment.” 274 F.3d 371. As we have previously determined that the years Davis has spent on death row do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, his challenge under the guise of international law must also fail.
{¶127} Having found that a 26-year delay in Davis’ execution does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under federal, Ohio, or international law, we overrule Davis’ final assignment of error.
{¶128} Judgment affirmed.
RINGLAND and HENDRICKSON, JJ., concur.