Woldt v. People

George W. Woldt and Francisco Martinez, Jr. separately appeal judgments of two three-judge panels sentencing them to death. For purposes of this opinion, we have combined these appeals. Woldt and Martinez allege that Colorado’s three-judge death penalty sentencing statute, under which they were sentenced to death, is unconstitutional on its face under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002).

The General Assembly adopted the three-judge panel sentencing system by statutory amendment in 1995, relying on a prior decision of the United States Supreme Court, Walton v.…