Donnelly v. DeChristoforo

. Mr. Justice Rehnquist

delivered the opinion of the Court.. Respondent was tried before a jury in Massachusetts Superior Court and convicted of first-degree murder.1 The jury recommended that the death penalty not be imposed, and respondent was sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts contending, inter alia, that certain of the prosecutor’s remarks during closing argument deprived him of his constitutional right to a fair trial. The Supreme Judicial Court' affirmed.2 That court acknowledged that the prosecutor had made improper remarks, but…