Calvin McMillan v. Alabama

......................................... 1 PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDING ............................ 2 LIST OF RELATED PROCEEDINGS ........................ 2 PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI ................. 4 INTRODUCTION ........................................................ 5 STATEMENT OF THE CASE..................................... 6 REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT ................ 10 I. The Execution of a Person Sentenced to Death by Judicial Override Violates the Eighth Amendment. ........................................ 10 A. Death Sentences Imposed by Judicial Override Are Arbitrary, Unreliable, and Capricious. ................. 12 B. Death Sentences Imposed by Judicial Override Deviate from Existing Standards of Decency. ........... 14 C. The Execution of a Person Who Was Sentenced to Death by Judicial Override Serves No Legitimate Penological Purpose. ......... 17 D. This Court Should Revisit Spaziano and Harris. ........................... 18 II. This Case Is an Ideal Vehicle for Addressing the Constitutionality of Judicial Override............................................. 22 A. The Case Exemplifies the Problems with Judicial Override. ........ 22