Beck rule (Texas) · Go Syfert
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Beck rule in Texas

7 Texas opinions name it 2 courts 1980–2026 2 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Texas courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (5)

CaseFollowedCited
Spaziano v. Floridared
scotus · 1984 · cited in 2 Texas opinions naming this issue, 1998–2026
2 sentences

2026See Spaziano, 468 U.S. at 455 (“The goal of the Beck rule . . . is to eliminate the distortion of the 34 factfinding process that is created when the jury is forced into an all-or-nothing choice between capital murder and innocence.”).

1998The Beck rule was explained in Spaziano v. Florida, 468 U.S. 447, 455 , 104 S.Ct. 3154 , 82 L.Ed.2d 340 (1984): The Court in Beck recognized that the jury’s role in the criminal process is essentially unreviewable and not always rational.

12
Schad v. Arizonagreen
scotus · 1991 · cited in 1 Texas opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
2 sentences

2023Further, the “fundamental concern in Beck was that a jury that was convinced that the defendant had committed some crime but was not convinced that he was guilty of a capital crime might nonetheless vote for a capital conviction if the only alternative was to set the defendant free with no punishment at all.” Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 646 (1991) (partial plurality op.).

2023Further, the “fundamental concern in Beck was that a jury that was convinced that the defendant had committed some crime but was not convinced that he was guilty of a capital crime might nonetheless vote for a capital conviction if the only alternative was to set the defendant free with no punishment at all.” Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 646 (1991) (partial plurality op.).

11
George Cordova v. James A. Lynaugh, Director, Texas Department of Correctionsgreen
ca5 · 1988 · cited in 1 Texas opinions naming this issue, 2000–2000
1 sentence

2000Instead, citing Cordova v. Lynaugh, 838 F.2d 764, 767 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1061 , 108 S.Ct. 2832 , 100 L.Ed.2d 932 (1988), a capital case which applied Beck , the Court of Appeals found that no due process violation occurred since the defendants were not legally entitled to a lesser-included offense instruction under the evidence.

11
City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authoritygreen
tex · 1979 · cited in 1 Texas opinions naming this issue, 1986–1986
1 sentence

1986See City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex.1979); Larkins v. City of Denison, 683 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1984, no writ); TEX.R.CIV.P. 166-A(c).

11
Larkins v. City of Denisongreen
texapp · 1984 · cited in 1 Texas opinions naming this issue, 1986–1986
1 sentence

1986See City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex.1979); Larkins v. City of Denison, 683 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1984, no writ); TEX.R.CIV.P. 166-A(c).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Texas. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (6)

CaseCitedYears
Wilson v. State green
texcrimapp · 1984
1 sentence

2010Wilson v. State, 671 S.W.2d 524 , 525–26 (Tex. Crim.

12010–2010
Dugger v. Miller green
scotus · 1988
1 sentence

2000Instead, citing Cordova v. Lynaugh, 838 F.2d 764, 767 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1061 , 108 S.Ct. 2832 , 100 L.Ed.2d 932 (1988), a capital case which applied Beck , the Court of Appeals found that no due process violation occurred since the defendants were not legally entitled to a lesser-included offense instruction under the evidence.

12000–2000
Lynaugh v. Cordova green
scotus · 1988
1 sentence

2000Instead, citing Cordova v. Lynaugh, 838 F.2d 764, 767 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1061 , 108 S.Ct. 2832 , 100 L.Ed.2d 932 (1988), a capital case which applied Beck , the Court of Appeals found that no due process violation occurred since the defendants were not legally entitled to a lesser-included offense instruction under the evidence.

12000–2000
Beck v. Alabama green
scotus · 1980
2 sentences

1998Id., at 638-643 , 100 S.Ct. 2382 .

1998Id., at 638-643 , 100 S.Ct. 2382 .

11998–1998
Bray v. Curtis green
texapp · 1976
1 sentence

1980Clothiers, 579 S.W.2d 564 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1979, no writ), and Bray v. Curtis, 544 S.W.2d 816 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1976, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

11980–1980
Hemphill v. S & Q CLOTHIERS green
texapp · 1979
1 sentence

1980Clothiers, 579 S.W.2d 564 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1979, no writ), and Bray v. Curtis, 544 S.W.2d 816 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1976, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

11980–1980

Statutes the citing opinions construe

TX § Tex. Penal Code § 19.03 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

CA 14 (1995–2025) GA 7 (1984–2020) TX 7 (1980–2026) OK 5 (2011–2018) PA 4 (2010–2018) MI 4 (2016–2026) AZ 4 (1985–2012) WV 3 (1987–2023) MD 3 (1989–1998) AK 3 (1991–1992) KS 3 (2004–2020) MS 2 (2008–2015) MO 2 (2021–2021) IA 2 (1975–2014)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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