Resource Guide for Managing Capital Cases: Federal Death Penalty Trials
Federal Judicial Center -- 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTE: Although information in the guide is generally current to the revision date that follows the title, some portions may become dated as case law develops and new approaches emerge to managing federal death penalty cases. The authors are updating this guide's cost data, which are outdated, especially as to mitigation experts and investigators.

This Federal Judicial Center publication was undertaken in furtherance of the Center’s statutory mission to conduct and stimulate research and development for the improvement of judicial administration. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Judicial Center.

Section I--Introduction
        Section I-Introduction
        Section I-A  What Makes Capital Cases Different
        Section I-B  Federal Statutes Authorizing the Death Penalty
Section II--Pretrial Management of Capital Cases
        Section II-A  Appointment of Counsel
        Section II-B  Government Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty
        Section II-C  Investigators and Experts
        Section II-D  Managing and Controlling Costs
        Section II-E  Discovery Issues
        Section II-F  Common Legal Challenges
        Section II-G  Monitoring and Controlling the Pretrial Process
Section III--Trial of Capital Cases: Guilt Phase
        Section III-A  Jury Issues
        Section III-B  Security Concerns
        Section III-C  Trial Schedule
        Section III-D  Jury Instructions for the Guilt Phase
        Section III-E  Rights of Victims to View Trial Proceedings
        Section III-F  How the Guilt Phase Differs in Death-Penalty Trials
Section IV--Trial of Capital Cases: Penalty Phase
        Section IV  Trial of Capital Cases: Penalty Phase
        Section IV-A  Preliminary Management Issues
        Section IV-B  Conduct of the Penalty Phase
        Section IV-C  Penalty-Phase Jury Instructions
        Section IV-D  Special-Findings and Decision Forms
        Section IV-E  Certificate of Nondiscrimination
        Section IV-F  Effects of Service on Jurors