Representing Individuals Facing the Death Penalty : a best practices manual /

Includes bibliographical references and index.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................8
I. How To Use This Manual............................................................................................................8
A. A Step-By-Step Guide To Defense In A Capital Case ....................................................8
B. The Law and Available Resources In Your Jurisdiction .................................................8
II. What is International Law? ..........................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2: UPHOLDING THE DUTY TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION: WHAT
WOULD A “GOOD LAWYER” DO?.................................................................................10
I. The Right To Effective Representation......................................................................................10
A. Why Do I Have a Duty To Represent My Client Effectively? ......................................10
B. Are My Duties to My Client Different in Capital Cases?..............................................10
C. What Exactly Does the Right to a Lawyer Include? ......................................................10
D. Scope of Representation.................................................................................................11
II. Legal Representation And Due Process.....................................................................................11
A. Right to a Fair Trial........................................................................................................11
B. How Can I Make Sure That I Have Adequate “Time and Facilities” to Prepare a
Defense?.........................................................................................................................12
C. What Can I Do to Obtain Necessary Personnel and Resources? ...................................13
D. What Resources Do I Need? ..........................................................................................14
III. The Lawyer-Client Relationship................................................................................................14
A. How Can I Establish Meaningful and Trusting Relationships with My Clients?..........15
B. Addressing Conflicts of Interest ....................................................................................17
CHAPTER 3: PRETRIAL DETENTION AND BAIL..................................................................................19
I. Right to Release/Bail..................................................................................................................19
A. Right to Pretrial Detention Hearing ..............................................................................19
B. Right To Release With The Least Restrictive Conditions.............................................20
II. Client Health and Welfare..........................................................................................................21
A. Medical and Food Aid....................................................................................................22
B. Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Torture ...................................................22
CHAPTER 4: INVESTIGATION AND OTHER PRE-TRIAL PREPARATION ............................................23
I. Introduction................................................................................................................................23
II. What Is the Investigator Looking For? ......................................................................................24
A. The Crime.......................................................................................................................24
B. Events Surrounding the Arrest.......................................................................................26
C. Possible Affirmative Defenses.......................................................................................27
D. Predicate Offenses..........................................................................................................28
E. Criminal History and Other Prior Misconduct...............................................................28
F. Eligibility for the Death Penalty ....................................................................................29
G. Mitigating Evidence.......................................................................................................29
III. The Process of Investigation ......................................................................................................29
A. When Should Investigation Begin?................................................................................29
B. Who Is Responsible for Investigation? ..........................................................................30
C. Sources of Information...................................................................................................30
IV. Expert Witnesses........................................................................................................................33
CHAPTER 5: DEFENDING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.....................................................................35
I. Certain Clients Require Special Care.........................................................................................35
II. Who Are These Clients? ............................................................................................................35
A. Pregnant or Nursing Women..........................................................................................35
B. Juveniles and the Aged...................................................................................................36
C. Individuals with Mental Disabilities..............................................................................38
D. Foreign Nationals...........................................................................................................41
CHAPTER 6: PRE-TRIAL APPLICATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS..........................................................43
I. Plea Negotiations .......................................................................................................................43
II. Pre-Trial Applications................................................................................................................44
A. Requests for Information in the Prosecution’s File........................................................45
B. Applications to Exclude Evidence .................................................................................46
C. Applications Challenging Imposition of the Death Penalty...........................................47
D. Application for a Speedy Trial.......................................................................................47
E. Application to Change Venue ........................................................................................47
F. Application for Financial Assistance .............................................................................47
G. Application for Relief from Prejudicial Joinder.............................................................48
H. Application to Seal Court File........................................................................................48
CHAPTER 7: TRIAL RIGHTS AND STRATEGY .....................................................................................49
I. Your Client’s Fair Trial Rights..................................................................................................49
A. Right to a Fair Hearing before an Impartial Tribunal ....................................................49
B. The Presumption of Innocence ......................................................................................50
C. Right to be Present at Trial.............................................................................................51
D. Right to Confront and Examine Witnesses....................................................................51
E. Right to Know the Grounds of the Tribunal’s Decision ................................................52
II. Trial Strategy..............................................................................................................................52
A. Developing a Theory of the Case...................................................................................53
B. Identifying Witnesses You Will Call .............................................................................54
C. Identifying Evidence and Exhibits You Will Introduce.................................................55
D. Jury Selection.................................................................................................................56
E. Examining Witnesses.....................................................................................................57
F. Introducing and Objecting to Evidence..........................................................................58
G. Opening and Closing Statements...................................................................................59
CHAPTER 8: SENTENCING ..................................................................................................................61
I. Introduction................................................................................................................................61
II. Mitigating Evidence...................................................................................................................62
A. Circumstances of the Offense ........................................................................................62
B. The Defendant’s Mental Condition................................................................................63
C. Personal and Social History ...........................................................................................64
D. Evidence of Good Moral Character ...............................................................................64
E. Evidence Encouraging the Court to Exercise Compassion............................................65
III. Other Arguments that Challenge Imposition of the Death Penalty ...........................................66
CHAPTER 9: APPEALS & POST-CONVICTION RELIEF.......................................................................67
I. Introduction................................................................................................................................67
II. Defending Your Client’s Rights After Conviction ....................................................................67
A. Your Client Has the Right to Appeal His Conviction and Sentence..............................67
B. Practical Suggestions .....................................................................................................68
C. Can Your Client Physically Attend Hearings on Appeal? .............................................72
D. Which Remedies to Seek ...............................................................................................72
III. What to Challenge Now? ...........................................................................................................72
A. The Mandatory Death Penalty .......................................................................................72
B. Death Penalty May Only Be Imposed for the “Most Serious Crimes”..........................73
C. Death Row Phenomenon................................................................................................74
D. Categories of Offenders Who Cannot Be Executed.......................................................75
E. Preventing the Execution of Mentally Ill Clients...........................................................75
F. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel..................................................................................75
G. Foreign Nationals Deprived of Consular Rights............................................................76
H. No Ex Post Facto Punishments......................................................................................76
I. Your Client Was Sentenced to Death After an Unfair Trial ..........................................77
J. Factual Issues to Consider..............................................................................................77
IV. Clemency....................................................................................................................................79
A. Your Client Has the Right to Seek a Pardon or Commutation of his Death
Sentence .........................................................................................................................79
B. Your Duties as Clemency Counsel ................................................................................79
C. The Right to a Stay of Execution ...................................................................................80
V. The “Court of Public Opinion” ..................................................................................................80
A. Taking Your Client’s Case to the Public .......................................................................80
B. Using Traditional Media ................................................................................................81
C. Using Social Media ........................................................................................................81
CHAPTER 10: ADVOCATING BEFORE INTERNATIONAL BODIES ........................................................83
I. When Do I Take a Case to an International Human Rights Body? ...........................................83
A. Which of Your Client’s Rights Were Violated? ............................................................83
B. Preparing Your Case ......................................................................................................83
C. Have you Exhausted Domestic Remedies?....................................................................84
II. Where to Petition........................................................................................................................85
A. Factors to Consider ........................................................................................................85
B. Human Rights Instruments.............................................................................................85
C. UN Mechanisms.............................................................................................................86
D. Other UN Mechanisms...................................................................................................87
E. Regional Human Rights Mechanisms............................................................................88
III. Weaknesses and Strengths of the International Bodies’ Jurisprudence .....................................89
IV. Interim Remedies.......................................................................................................................90
CHAPTER 11: APPENDIX.......................................................................................................................91
I. Resources ...................................................................................................................................91
II. Templates...................................................................................................................................91
A. Model UN Complaint Forms .........................................................................................91
III. List of Acronyms .......................................................................................................................91
IV. List of NGOs, Law Clinics, and Other Organizations that may be able to assist you in
presenting complaints to human rights bodies and publicizing your case .................................92
A. Human Rights Clinics....................................................................................................92
B. NGOs .............................................................................................................................92
V. Mitigation Checklist...................................................................................................................92
CHAPTER 12: END NOTES ....................................................................................................................96

Provides legal arguments and strategic guidance covering the representation of individuals facing the death penalty globally, from arrest through clemency, with best practices for pretrial, trial, sentencing, appeals, international law, vulnerable populations, etc.