§3595 Review of a Sentence of Death

Summary

When a person is sentenced to death, the defendant can appeal and the court of appeals must review the sentence. The notice of appeal must be filed within the normal deadline. The appeal can be combined with an appeal of the conviction and gets priority over other cases. The appeals court must look at the whole record — trial evidence, the information used at sentencing, how the sentencing hearing was run, and the special findings under section 3593(d). The court must consider every issue raised and check whether the death sentence was imposed because of passion, prejudice, or other unfair reasons, and whether the evidence supports the aggravating finding required under section 3592. The court must explain its decision in writing.