Williams v. Oklahoma, 358 U.S. 576 (1959)

U.S. Supreme Court

Williams v. Oklahoma, 358 U.S. 576 (1959) Williams v. Oklahoma

No. 124

Argued January 21, 1959

Decided February 24, 1959

358 U.S. 576

CERTIORARI TO THE CRIMINAL COURT OF APPEALS OF OKLAHOMA

Syllabus

While fleeing from police after robbing a filling station, petitioner forced his way at gunpoint into the automobile of one Cooke, forced him to drive far into the country, there shot and killed him, and escaped in his car. Charged in an Oklahoma court with murder, he entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Thereafter, he was charged in another Oklahoma court with the kidnaping involved in the same occurrence. While represented by counsel and after being warned by the court that conviction might result in a death sentence, he pleaded guilty and was convicted. Before sentencing him, the court permitted the State's Attorney to make an unsworn statement in which he recounted at length the armed robbery, the chase, the elusion of police, the gruesome details of the kidnaping and murder, and petitioner's past criminal record, and petitioner was sentenced to death on the kidnaping charge. Under Oklahoma law, kidnaping and murder are separate and distinct offenses, and petitioner made no claim prior to his conviction that he was being put twice in jeopardy for the same offense. Under Oklahoma law, the granting of a presentence hearing at which testimony is taken is discretionary with the trial court, and petitioner did not request such a hearing.

Held: Petitioner was not denied due process of law in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 358 U. S. 577-587.

(a) On the record, this Court cannot say that petitioner was deprived of any right or of fundamental fairness by the fact that the trial court did not pursue the presentencing procedures prescribed by the Oklahoma statutes. Pp. 358 U. S. 582-583.

(b) The statement by the State's Attorney of the details of the crime and of petitioner's criminal record -- all admitted by petitioner to be true -- did not deprive petitioner of fundamental fairness or of any right of confrontation or cross-examination. Pp. 358 U. S. 583-584.

(c) On the record in this case, this Court cannot say that the sentencing judge was not entitled to consider the murder, along with all other circumstances involved, in determining the proper sentence for the kidnaping. Pp. 358 U. S. 584-586.

Page 358 U. S. 577

(d) Since kidnaping and murder are separate and distinct crimes under Oklahoma law, the court's consideration of the murder as a circumstance involved in the kidnaping cannot be said to have resulted in punishing petitioner a second time fol the same offense, nor to have denied him due process of law in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. P. 358 U.S. 586.

(e) This Court cannot say that the death sentence for kidnaping, which was within the range of punishments authorized for that crime by Oklahoma law, denied to petitioner due process of law or any other constitutional right. Pp. 358 U.S. 586-587.

321 P.2d 990, affirmed.

MR. JUSTICE WHITTAKER delivered the opinion of the Court.

Upon his plea of guilty to a charge of kidnaping in the District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma, petitioner was sentenced to death. On appeal, the Criminal Court of Appeals of Oklahoma affirmed, Okl.Cr., 321 P.2d 990, and certiorari was sought on the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. We granted the writ to determine that question. 357 U.S. 925.

The undisputed facts are that, on June 17, 1956, within a few hours after robbing a filling station attendant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and eluding police in an ensuing chase, petitioner forced his way into an automobile being driven by one Tommy Cooke, a young divinity student, as it stopped for a traffic light in that city, and, at gunpoint, forced Cooke to drive beyond the City and County of Tulsa and for a considerable distance through northeastern

Page 358 U. S. 578

Oklahoma to a point on a dead-end road in Muskogee County where he shot and killed him, and then escaped in the car. On June 19, 1956, petitioner was apprehended, and, soon afterward, he was charged in the District Court of Muskogee County with murdering Cooke in that county. On arraignment, he entered a plea of not guilty, but, during the course of his trial, petitioner, on November 19, 1956, withdrew that plea and entered a plea of guilty as charged. He was thereupon convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. [Footnote 1]

Thereafter, on December 17, 1956, petitioner was charged in the District Court of Tulsa County with kidnaping Cooke in that county on June 17, 1956, in violation of Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 21, § 745. [Footnote 2] At his arraignment on December 19, 1956, petitioner entered a plea of not guilty, but, on January 30, 1957, a few days before the scheduled date of trial, he withdrew that plea and entered a plea of guilty as charged. After interrogating petitioner to make sure that he had entered the plea of guilty voluntarily and that he understood that he might be sentenced to death upon it, [Footnote 3] the court accepted the plea

Page 358 U. S. 579

and adjudged petitioner guilty of the crime of kidnaping Cooke as charged. Thereupon, the court asked counsel for petitioner if he wished to be heard regarding the sentence to be imposed, and counsel replied that he preferred to reserve his statement until after the State's Attorney had spoken. The State's Attorney then made a statement -- reading much of it from a prepared statement -- recounting the armed robbery of the filling station attendant and the following chase by and elusion of the Tulsa police; reciting the gruesome details of the kidnaping of Cooke in Tulsa County and of his murder in Muskogee County; stating petitioner's past criminal record as shown

Page 358 U. S. 580

by the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; [Footnote 4] and concluding with a request for a death sentence. Counsel for petitioner objected to any reference to the murder on the ground that sentence for that crime had already been imposed by the District Court of Muskogee County and that it could not again lawfully be considered in imposing sentence on the kidnaping charge. The court, expressing the view that it was "proper to advise the court of all the facts [occurring while petitioner] had the victim in his charge and under his control," overruled the objection. After the State's Attorney had concluded, counsel for petitioner put in evidence a transcript of the sentencing proceedings had in the District Court of Muskogee County in the murder case, and made an extended plea for a sentence to life imprisonment, rather than a sentence to death.

After thus fully hearing the parties, the court deferred the imposition of sentence for two days. Upon reconvening, the court called petitioner to the bar and asked him whether he wished to make any correction in the statement that had been made to the court by the State's Attorney. Petitioner answered that he did not, and that the matters related in that statement were true. [Footnote 5] Thereupon,

Page 358 U. S. 581

the court sentenced petitioner to death, and, in the course of his pronouncement, the judge said, among other things, that he had considered the facts

"which [had] been stated [by counsel] and which [petitioner had] admitted were [involved in] this crime [of kidnaping], committed in Tulsa County, which resulted in the murder of the victim, [all of] which the Court takes into consideration . . . as a continuing thing."

As stated, petitioner's broad claim is that these proceedings show that the death sentence was determined and imposed in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In support of that position, he makes, and variously repeats, a number of arguments which, upon analysis, come down to three contentions: first, that the trial court violated the presentence procedure prescribed by Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 22, §§ 973, 974 and 975, in permitting the State's Attorney to make an unsworn statement to the court of the details of the crime and of petitioner's criminal record, and that this also denied to him the rights of confrontation and cross-examination; second, that the court, in taking the murder into consideration in imposing sentence on the kidnaping charge, punished him a second time for the same offense; and, third, that, in any event, the sentence to death for kidnaping was "disproportionate" to that crime and to

Page 358 U. S. 582

the life sentence that had earlier been imposed upon him for the "ultimate" crime of murder.

Petitioner's contentions that the trial court deprived him of his legal rights and of fundamental fairness in failing to pursue the formal presentence procedures prescribed by Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 22, §§ 973, 974 and 975, and in permitting the State's Attorney to make an unsworn statement to the court of the details of the crime and of petitioner's criminal record were also made by petitioner in the Criminal Court of Appeals of Oklahoma. That court rejected those contentions. Sections 973-975 provide in substance that, after a plea or verdict of guilty in a case where the extent of the punishment is left with the court, the court, upon the suggestion of either party that there are circumstances which may be properly taken into view, either in aggravation or mitigation of the punishment, may, in its discretion, hold a formal hearing and take evidence thereon. [Footnote 6] The Oklahoma court held that whether those procedures shall be used is discretionary with the trial court, and that, at all events, petitioner waived their use by failing to request a hearing under those statutes. In construing those statutes it said:

"But two things are clear under the provisions of § 973. First,

Page 358 U. S. 583

pursuing this method of procedure is a matter of the trial court's sound discretion. Second, its use is further contingent upon the request of either the state or the defendant."

It further said:

"It is contended that, under the provisions of § 975, it is the mandatory duty of the court to hear witnesses. But, in construing §§ 974 and 975 in light of the provisions of § 973, we are of the opinion that both the provisions of § 974 and § 975 are contingent upon the request for evidence under the provisions of § 973, [and that,] [w]hen the parties fail to make a request for the privilege thereof, the same is waived and some other method of supplying the court with the necessary information for the pronouncement of judgment and sentence may be substituted instead."

This construction of the State's statutes by its court of last resort must be accepted here.

It is not contended that petitioner requested or suggested that the trial court hear evidence in mitigation of the sentence. Nor did petitioner request or suggest that the court require the State to offer evidence in support of the aggravating circumstances. In these circumstances, we cannot say that petitioner was deprived of any right or of fundamental fairness by the fact that the trial court did not pursue the presentencing procedures prescribed by the Oklahoma statutes.

Nor did the State's Attorney's statement of the details of the crime and of petitioner's criminal record deprive petitioner of fundamental fairness or of any right of confrontation or cross-examination. As we have seen, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma held in this case that, when petitioner failed to request the privilege of adducing evidence in mitigation of the crime, and thereby waived the presentence procedures prescribed by §§ 973-975, the law of Oklahoma authorized

"some other method of supplying the court with the necessary information for the pronouncement of judgment and sentence [to] be

Page 358 U. S. 584

substituted instead,"

and it held that the State's Attorney's statement was a proper method in these circumstances under the law of Oklahoma. Moreover, after the State's Attorney had made his statement, petitioner, upon interrogation by the court, stated that the recitals of that statement were true. See Note 5 This alone should be a complete answer to the contention. But we go on to consider this Court's opinion in Williams v. New York, 337 U. S. 241. This Court there dealt with very similar contentions, and held that, once the guilt of the accused has been properly established, the sentencing judge, in determining the kind and extent of punishment to be imposed, is not restricted to evidence derived from the examination and cross-examination of witnesses in open court, but may, consistently with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, consider responsible unsworn or "out of court" information relative to the circumstances of the crime and to the convicted person's life and characteristics.

These considerations make it clear that the State's Attorney's statement of the details of the crime and of petitioner's criminal record -- all admitted by petitioner to be true -- did not deprive petitioner of fundamental fairness or of any right of confrontation or cross-examination.

Petitioner's further claim that the sentence to death for kidnaping was "disproportionate" to that crime and to the life sentence that had earlier been imposed upon him for the "ultimate" crime of murder proceeds on the basis that the sentence for kidnaping was excessive, that the murder was the greater offense, and that the sentence for the lesser crime of kidnaping ought not, in conscience and with due regard for fundamental fairness, exceed the life sentence that was imposed in another jurisdiction for the murder. But the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment does not, nor does anything in the Constitution, require a State to fix or impose any particular penalty for any crime it may define, or to impose the same or "proportionate" sentences for separate and independent crimes. Therefore, we cannot say that the sentence to death for the kidnaping, which was within the range of punishments authorized for that crime by the law of the State, denied to petitioner due process of

Page 358 U. S. 587

law or any other constitutional right. Nor, in view of the fact that kidnaping and murder are separate and independent offenses in Oklahoma, is there any merit in petitioner's collateral claim that what he calls "the lesser crime" of kidnaping "merged" in what he calls "the greater crime" of murder, and that the sentence to life imprisonment for the murder was a bar to the imposition of any sentence for the kidnaping, or at least to any greater sentence than was imposed for the murder, and that imposition of a death sentence for the kidnaping deprived him of due process in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

We have now treated with all of petitioner's claims, and, failing to find any deprivation by the Oklahoma courts of any of his fundamental rights, we must hold that petitioner was not denied due process of law.

Affirmed.

MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, being of the view that petitioner was in substance tried for murder twice in violation of the guarantee against double jeopardy, dissents.

[Footnote 1]

Okl.Stat.1951. Tit. 21, § 707, provides, in pertinent part:

"Every person convicted of murder shall suffer death, or imprisonment at hard labor in the State penitentiary for life at the discretion of the jury, [nut] upon a plea of guilty the Court shall determine the [punishment]."

[Footnote 2]

Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 21, § 745, provides, in pertinent part, that

"Every person who, without lawful authority, forcibly seizes and confines another, or inveigles or kidnaps another, for the purpose of extorting any money, property or thing of value or advantage from the person so seized . . . , or in any manner threatens [the person so seized] shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall suffer death or imprisonment in the penitentiary, not less than ten years."

[Footnote 3]

The court's interrogation and petitioner's answers were as follows:

"THE COURT: [T]he Court is advised by the assistant County Attorney and also by your counsel, that, at this time, you wish to withdraw your plea of not guilty, which has heretofore been entered in this case, wherein you are charged with the crime of kidnapping, and enter a plea of guilty to this charge --"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: Is that correct?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: Now, you understand the nature of this charge, do you?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: That's right."

"THE COURT: You understand that it is a charge that is punishable with the extreme penalty of life imprisonment, or death in the electric chair?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: In the light of that knowledge and information and understanding, are you entering this plea freely and voluntarily upon your part?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: Has there been any representation made to you be counsel, or by anyone else, as to the sentence which you might expect from the Court in this case?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: I was told I could expect the maximum."

"THE COURT: Of death in the electric chair?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: In the light of that representation made to you by your counsel, you wish to withdraw your plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty to the charge?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

[Footnote 4]

As recited by the State's Attorney, the FBI files disclosed the commission of five crimes by petitioner, consisting of grand theft in 1944 at the age of 14, resulting in his release to a juvenile bureau; a Dyer Act violation in 1945, resulting in a three-year sentence to the federal juvenile correctional institution at Inglewood, Colorado; escape from Inglewood and a Dyer Act violation in 1947, resulting in a sentence for a term of 18 months; and armed robbery in 1949, resulting in a sentence for a term of 12 years in the Indiana State Penitentiary.

[Footnote 5]

The court's questions and petitioner's answers were as follows:

"THE COURT: Now, at that time on Wednesday, there was a statement of facts made by the State relative to this case and the sequence of events and the facts surrounding the sequence of events and the facts surrounding the commission of this crime. Do you have any correction to make in reference to the statement of counsel for the State in that regard?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir."

"THE COURT: Those facts were true?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT: And you at this time admit that they were true and that you committed the acts as set forth by the State, that is correct, is it?"

"MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir."

"THE COURT [addressing counsel for petitioner]: All right. Do you have anything further to say on behalf of this defendant?"

"[Counsel for Petitioner]: Nothing further."

[Footnote 6]

Sections 973, 974 and 975, Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 22, provide:

"§ 973. After a plea or verdict of guilty in a case where the extent of the punishment is left with the court, the court, upon the suggestion of either party that there are circumstances which may be properly taken into view, either in aggravation or mitigation of the punishment, may in its discretion hear the same summarily at a specified time and upon such notice to the adverse party as it may direct."

"§ 974. The circumstances must be presented by the testimony of witnesses examined in open court. . . ."

"§ 975. No affidavit or testimony, or representation of any kind, verbal or written, can be offered to or received by the court or member thereof in aggravation or mitigation of the punishment, except as provided in the last two sections."

[Footnote 7]

Okl.Stat.1951, Tit. 21, § 701 provides:

"Homicide is murder in the following cases."

"1. When perpetrated without authority of law, and with a premeditated design to effect the death of the person killed, or of any other human being."

"2. When perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual."

"3. When perpetrated without any design to effect death by a person engaged in the commission of any felony."

[Footnote 8]

See Note 2

[Footnote 9]

Collins v. State, 70 Okl.Cr. 340, 106 P.2d 273; Mowels v. State, 52 Okl.Cr. 193, 11 P.2d 205; Ex parte Zeligson, 47 Okl.Cr. 45, 287 P. 731; Fines v. State, 32 Okl.Cr. 304, 240 P. 1079; White v. State, 23 Okl.Cr. 198, 214 P. 202.