Donald Leroy Stavinoha, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' judgment, holding that victim impact evidence describing the psychological trauma to both the child victim and his mother was admissible at the punishment phase because it bears on the defendant's personal responsibility and moral guilt. The decision relied on the Court's prior Miller‑El holding that such evidence is a permissible circumstance of the offense. A concurring opinion agreed with the result but cautioned against the majority's broad characterization of the mother's trauma evidence.