Thornell v. Jones
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Thornell v. Jones and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Thornell v. Jones.
The Supreme Court reviewed the Ninth Circuit's decision granting habeas relief to Danny Lee Jones, who was sentenced to death for multiple murders. The Court found that the Ninth Circuit misapplied the Strickland standard for ineffective assistance of counsel by not adequately considering the weight of aggravating circumstances. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit's decision, emphasizing the strength of the aggravating factors in Jones's case.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Thornell v. Jones.
The Court held that the Ninth Circuit's interpretation and application of Strickland was in error.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Thornell v. Jones. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Right to Counsel is relevant to Thornell v. Jones
The case centers on whether Jones received ineffective assistance of counsel, which is a direct application of the right to counsel.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Jones later sought state postconviction review on the theory that defense counsel was ineffective.
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Why Cruel and Unusual Punishment is relevant to Thornell v. Jones
The case involves the imposition of the death penalty, which implicates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Jones would not have received a death sentence if that evidence had been presented at sentencing.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Thornell v. Jones
The case discusses whether the procedures followed in assessing the mitigating and aggravating factors were fair, implicating procedural due process.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Ninth Circuit departed from these well-established rules in at least three ways.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Thornell v. Jones that support the summary and concepts above.
The Ninth Circuit's interpretation and application of Strickland was in error.
Jones must show that counsel provided a 'defcient' performance that 'prejudiced' him.
The mitigating evidence Jones presented at the federal evidentiary hearing 'would barely have altered the sentencing profile presented to the sentencing judge.'
