Dallas County Death Penalty Arguments

Today I was asked by KRLD about the goal in  closing arguments in the penalty phase of a Death Penalty case that is being tried in Dallas County. In reality a Capital Murder case like this is all about the punishment assessed in the penalty phase. The State usually only seeks the death penalty in cases where they have a solid case on guilt so the real battle is over the jury’s decision on a Death Sentence or Life Without Parole. The defense attorney’s will try to convince at least one juror to find mitigating evidence. All the defendant needs is one juror to find there is mitigating evidence and hold out. If that happens the Judge has no choice but to sentence the Defendant to Life Without Parole.