United States v. Johnson, No. CR 01-3046-MWB

• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of Iowa
• Writing for the Court: MARK W. BENNETT
• Parties: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. ANGELA JOHNSON, Defendant.
• Docket Number: No. CR 01-3046-MWB
• Decision Date: 16 January 2013

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff,
v.
ANGELA JOHNSON, Defendant.

No. CR 01-3046-MWB

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA CENTRAL DIVISION

Dated: January 16, 2013

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS CERTAIN STATUTORY AND NON- STATUTORY AGGRAVATING FACTORS FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S THIRD AMENDED NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................5

II. "CONTEXTUAL" MATTERS...........................................................8

A. Scope Of The "Penalty Retrial".................................................9
B. Aggravating Factors..............................................................14

1. The role of aggravating factors........................................14
2. "Statutory aggravating factors".......................................16

a. Factors that can be considered................................16

i. Factors alleged and noticed............................17
ii. Factors that can properly be considered.............18

b. Factors that can be challenged................................22

C. Penalties............................................................................23

1. Penalties vacated.........................................................23
2. Possibility of a death sentence on Count 6..........................23

a. Arguments of the parties.......................................24
b. Controlling authority............................................24
c. Analysis ............................................................ 26

Page 2

d. Summary...........................................................29

3. Possibility of a sentence less than life without parole on all Counts ...................................................................... 29

a. Arguments of the parties.......................................30
b. The statutory sentencing scheme..............................31
c. Analysis ............................................................ 32

i. Johnson's authority.....................................32
ii. The jury's ability to consider lesser penalties......33
iii. The jury's ability to recommend a lesser penalty ..................................................... 36
iv. The jury's ability to impose a lesser penalty........37

d. Summary...........................................................40

D. Necessity Of A Preliminary Evidentiary Showing..........................40

1. Arguments of the parties................................................41
2. Analysis .................................................................... 41

III. CHALLENGES TO STATUTORY AGGRAVATING FACTORS................48

IV. CHALLENGES TO THE NON-STATUTORY AGGRAVATING FACTORS .................................................................................. 50

A. "Multiple Killings" And "Passage Of Time"...............................50

1. Allegations of the factors ...............................................50
2. Arguments of the parties................................................50
3. Standards for "duplicativeness" .......................................51
4. Analysis .................................................................... 55

B. "Lack of remorse"...............................................................58

1. Allegation of the factor.................................................. 58
2. Arguments of the parties................................................ 59
3. Authority regarding "lack of remorse" as a separate factor ..... 60
4. Analysis .................................................................... 65

C. "Uncharged Criminal Conduct"............................................... 67

1. Allegations of the factors ............................................... 67
2. Duplicativeness ........................................................... 69
3. Inadmissibility in general ............................................... 71

a. Statutory and other limitations ................................ 71

i. Arguments of the parties ............................... 71
ii. The purported statutory bar............................ 72
iii. Admissibility of

...