In 1976, contemporaneously with Woodson and Roberts, the Court decided Gregg v. Georgia and upheld a procedure in which the trial of capital crimes was bifurcated into guilt-innocence and sentencing phases. At the first proceeding, the jury decides the defendant's guilt; if the defendant is innocent or otherwise not convicted of first-degree murder, the death penalty will not be imposed. At the second hearing, the jury determines whether certain statutory aggravating factors exist, whether any mitigating factors exist, and, in many jurisdictions, weigh the aggravating and mitigating factors in assessing the ultimate penalty – either death or life in prison, either with or without parole. COUNT 5
QSN1 In what year was Gregg v. Georgia decided? ANS1 1976 QSN2 Along with the guilt-innocence phase, what is the other phase of a death penalty trial under Gregg v. Georgia? ANS2 sentencing QSN3 What is the only conviction that can lead to the death penalty? ANS3 first-degree murder QSN4 Along with aggravating factors, what other factors are considered at the second hearing? ANS4 mitigating QSN5 What is decided at the first proceeding? ANS5 the defendant's guilt