Thursday, December 18, 2008

3:13-4. Additional Discovery in Capital Cases

(a) In addition to any discovery provided pursuant to R. 3:13-3, the prosecuting attorney shall provide the defendant with the indictment containing the aggravating factors that the State intends to prove at the penalty phase together with all discovery bearing on these factors. The prosecuting attorney shall provide the defendant with any discovery in the possession of the prosecution that is relevant to the existence of any mitigating factors. Such discovery shall be transmitted at the arraignment/status conference unless the time to do so is enlarged for good cause. If the aggravating factors are not contained in the original indictment, but are contained in a supplemental indictment, the prosecuting attorney shall provide the defendant with any discovery bearing on these factors immediately upon return of the supplemental indictment, unless the time to do so is enlarged for good cause shown.

(b) The defendant shall provide the prosecuting attorney with an itemization setting forth the mitigating factors the defendant intends to rely on at the sentencing hearing together with any discovery in the possession of the defendant in support of those factors. Such discovery shall be transmitted to the prosecuting attorney forthwith upon a verdict of guilty, or plea of guilty, to a crime punishable by death.

(c) The duty to disclose the discovery relevant to the existence of aggravating and mitigating factors shall be a continuing one.