Joseph Bernard Nichols, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas affirmed Joseph Nichols' capital murder conviction and death sentence, holding that his confession was properly admitted, that most juror exclusions were proper, and that the evidence supported the jury's findings on deliberateness, future dangerousness, and provocation. The Court found the sua sponte excusal of juror Terry Hurzeler to be error but harmless. Justice Teague dissented, arguing that the Hurzeler exclusion was not harmless.