§3595 Review of a sentence of death

Summary

If a person is given the death penalty, the defendant can appeal and the court of appeals must review that death sentence. The notice of appeal must be filed in the normal time allowed for appeals. The appeal can be joined with an appeal of the conviction and gets priority ahead of other cases. The court will read the whole record, including the trial evidence, what was presented at sentencing, how the sentencing was run, and the special findings required by law. The court must deal with all legal and factual issues raised. It must check whether the death sentence was affected by passion, prejudice, or any other unfair reason and whether the evidence supports the required aggravating finding. If the court finds those problems or any other preserved legal error, it must put its reasons in writing.