(I)Prosecutorial Misconduct in Argument.   The prosecution has both an ethical and constitutional duty to ensure that its arguments regarding sentence do not lead to a sentence based on prejudice or passion.  Due process can be violated by inflammatory remarks by the prosecutor, especially before a sentencing jury.[203]  The prosecution must also not make disparaging remarks regarding racial, ethnic or religious groups.[204]

[203] See ABA Standards Relating to Sentencing Alternatives and Procedures,   § 5.3(b) (1968); Brooks v. Kemp, 762 F.2d 1383 (11th Cir. 1985).

[204] Cf. Bains v. Cambra, 204 F.3d 964, 974 (9th Cir. 2000); see also McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 309 n.30 (1987) (noting that “[t]he Constitution prohibits racially biased prosecutorial arguments”)

Ninth Circuit

SENTENCE " GROUNDS " APPRENDI ERROR IN SENTENCING DEFENDANT UNDER THREE STRIKES LAW ON THE BASIS OF FACTS IN THE PRIOR CASE THAT WERE NOT FOUND TRUE BY A JURY OR ADMITTED AS TRUE BY THE DEFENDANT
Wilson v. Knowles, ___ F.3d ___, 2011 WL 383961 (9th Cir. Feb. 8, 2011)(habeas corpus granted, vacating Three Strikes sentence imposed in violation of petitioner's right to due process under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), where sentencing court imposed the sentence on the basis of three facts in the prior case that were not found true by a jury or admitted as true by the defendant).

SENTENCE " GROUNDS " APPRENDI ERROR IN SENTENCING DEFENDANT UNDER THREE STRIKES LAW ON THE BASIS OF FACTS IN THE PRIOR CASE THAT WERE NOT FOUND TRUE BY A JURY OR ADMITTED AS TRUE BY THE DEFENDANT
Wilson v. Knowles, ___ F.3d ___, 2011 WL 383961 (9th Cir. Feb. 8, 2011)(habeas corpus granted, vacating Three Strikes sentence imposed in violation of petitioner's right to due process under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), where sentencing court imposed the sentence on the basis of three facts in the prior case that were not found true by a jury or admitted as true by the defendant).

SENTENCE " GROUNDS " APPRENDI ERROR IN SENTENCING DEFENDANT UNDER THREE STRIKES LAW ON THE BASIS OF FACTS IN THE PRIOR CASE THAT WERE NOT FOUND TRUE BY A JURY OR ADMITTED AS TRUE BY THE DEFENDANT
Wilson v. Knowles, 631 F.3d 1295, 2011 WL 383961 (9th Cir. Feb. 8, 2011)(habeas corpus granted, vacating Three Strikes sentence imposed in violation of petitioner's right to due process under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), where sentencing court imposed the sentence on the basis of three facts in the prior case that were not found true by a jury or admitted as true by the defendant).

Other

CAL POST CON " PLEA BARGAINING " JUDICIAL INVOLVEMENT
People v. Clancey, 202 Cal.App.4th 790 (Cal.App. Jan. 10, 2012) (trial court's offered sentence was not proper because it was: 1) conditioned on the defendant pleading to all counts and admitting all allegations, and 2) operated as a commitment by the judge to impose the offered sentence or to allow the defendant to withdraw the pleas and admissions).