Britt Allen Ripkowski, Appellant v. the State of Texas

Summary

The Court affirmed the conviction and death sentence, holding that the appellant's Miranda waiver was valid, the psychiatric testimony did not violate the Fifth or Sixth Amendments, the waiver of the mitigation special issue was barred by the doctrine of invited error, the child murder statute was upheld, the videotape and photographs were admissible, and the prosecutor's parole argument was proper. Justice Meyers dissented, arguing that the waiver should be permissible, and Justice Cochran concurred, viewing the waiver as a strategic decision belonging to the defendant.