Jones v. United States

525 U.S. 809, 119 S. Ct. 39

Opinion

C. A. 5th Cir. Motion of petitioner for leave to proceed in. forma panperis granted. Certiorari granted limited to the following questions: "1. Whether petitioner was entitled to a jury instruction that the jury's failure to agree on a sentencing recommendation automatically would result in a court-imposed sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of release? 2. Whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury instructions led the jury to believe that deadlock on the penalty recommendation would automatically result in a court-imposed sentence less severe than life imprisonment? 3. Whether the Court of Appeals correctly held that the submission of invalid nonstatutory aggravating factors was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?"