Dewey E. Coleman v. Henry Risley, Warden, Montana State Prison, and Michael T. Greely, Attorney General for the State of Montana

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I.INTRODUCTION ..466

II.THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAIM. 467

A. Introduction. 467

B. Law.468

1. General Equal Protection Principles .468

2. Equal Protection Challenges of Plea Bargaining _470

C. Facts.472

1. The Evidence Available.472

2. The Plea Bargaining Hearings .474

D. Discussion.477

E. Evidentiary Hearing on the Equal Protection Claim.482

F. Conclusion.484

III.THE CAPITAL SENTENCING PROCEEDINGS .484

A. Introduction.485

B. Facts.486

1. Coleman’s First Sentencing.486

2. The 1977 Death Penalty Statute.486

3. The Resentencing of Coleman.488

C. Constitutional Deficiencies of Coleman’s…