Pennsylvania v. Baumhammers (majority)
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Appellant Richard Baumhammers went on a two-hour crime spree in 2000 whereby he shot six racial or ethnic minorities. Four victims died of their wounds; the fifth was paralyzed from the neck down. During the spree, appellant burned his Jewish neighbor's house, and damaged two synagogues by spray painting swastikas on the outside then shooting bullets into both. Appellant was charged with five counts of first-degree murder and related offenses. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to death. Appellant petitioned for post-conviction relief, which was ultimately denied. On appeal to the Supreme Court, appellant argued multiple instances of violations of appellant's constitutional rights were violated, and multiple instances of alleged ineffective assistance of counsel (both at trial and in the penalty phase). The Supreme Court found no reason to overturn the PCRA Court's ruling on appellant's claims of error, and therefore affirmed appellant's conviction and sentence.
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