State v. Bryant

Chief Justice TOAL:

This is an appeal from a capital sentencing proceeding in which the trial court sentenced James Nathaniel Bryant, III (“Bryant”) to death. Bryant appeals claiming that the trial court erred in 1) failing to require that jurors be physically present during jury selection; 2) failing to order the State to produce Bryant’s prison records pursuant to Brady v. Maryland and Rule 5, SCRCrimP; and 3) failing to admit the defense expert’s opinion testimony that the death penalty was more merciful than a sentence of life without parole. We affirm.

Factuae/Procedural Background

In June…