Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 13A-5-50 (2026)

Consideration of Aggravating Circumstances in Sentence Determination.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026

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The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding and consideration of that relevant circumstance or circumstances in determining sentence. By way of illustration and not limitation, the aggravating circumstance specified in Section 13A-5-49(4) shall be found and considered in determining sentence in every case in which a defendant is convicted of the capital offenses defined in subdivisions (1) through (4) of subsection (a) of Section 13A-5-40.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-178, p. 203, §12; Acts 1982, No. 82-567, p. 945, §1.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 78 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Ex Parte Waldrop, 859 So. 2d 1181 (Ala. 2002).

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Ex Parte Waldrop, 859 So. 2d 1181 (Ala. 2002). · cites it 4× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 ("The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Lewis v. State, 889 So. 2d 623 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 (`The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Clark v. State, 896 So. 2d 584 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 (`The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Lam Luong v. State, 199 So. 3d 173 (Ala. Crim. App. 2016). · cites it 5× ““The statute provides that the finding and consideration of the relevant aggravating circumstance of § 13A-5-49(6) is not precluded by its inclusion in the definition of the capital offense charged, in this case, under § 13A-5-40(a)(7).”

Harris v. State, 2 So. 3d 880 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “Code 1975; see also § 13A-5-50, Ala.Code 1975. Only one aggravating circumstance must exist in order to impose a sentence of death.”

Maples v. State, 758 So. 2d 1 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). · cites it 5× “Code 1975, provides, in pertinent part: "The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding and consideration of…”

Thomas v. State, 824 So. 2d 1 (Ala. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “) Next, the court read § 13A-5-48 (describing the process of weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances); § 13A-5-49 (listing the facts that " shall be " aggravating circumstances); [3] and § 13A-5-50 (allowing for *70 the aggravation component of the offense to be…”

Barber v. State, 952 So. 2d 393 (Ala. Crim. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 (`The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Brown v. State, 74 So. 3d 984 (Ala. Crim. App. 2010). · cites it 7× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 (‘The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Lane v. State, 169 So. 3d 1076 (Ala. Crim. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “Code 1975, § 13A-5-45(e); see also Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-5-50 (“The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5^10(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5^19 shall not be construed to preclude the finding…”

Wilson v. State, 777 So. 2d 856 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “However, § 13A-5-50, Ala.Code 1975, provides, in pertinent part: "The fact that a particular capital offense as defined in Section 13A-5-40(a) necessarily includes one or more aggravating circumstances as specified in Section 13A-5-49 shall not be construed to preclude the…”

Ex parte Bohannon, 222 So. 3d 525 (Ala. 2016). · cites it 2× “Code 1975, § 13A-5^0(a)(2), the statutory aggravating circumstance of committing a capital offense while engaged in the commission of a robbery, Ala. Code 1975, § 13A-5-49(4), was ‘proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Show all 78 citing cases →

— Ala. Code § 13A-5-50(1) — 1 case

Brooks v. State, 973 So. 2d 380 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007).

— Ala. Code § 13A-5-50(2) — 1 case

Saunders v. State, 10 So. 3d 53 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007).

— Ala. Code § 13A-5-50(7) — 1 case

Saunders v. State, 10 So. 3d 53 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007).

— Ala. Code § 13A-5-50(a)(15) — 1 case

Dorsey v. State, 881 So. 2d 460 (Ala. Crim. App. 2002).

— Ala. Code § 13A-5-50(l) — 1 case

Saunders v. State, 10 So. 3d 53 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007).

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