University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln College of Law, Faculty Publications Law, College of 2006 TWO-EDGED SWORDS, DANGEROUSNESS, AND EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CAPITAL SENTENCING Robert F. Schopp University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/lawfacpub Part of the Legal Studies Commons Schopp, Robert F., "TWO-EDGED SWORDS, DANGEROUSNESS, AND EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CAPITAL SENTENCING" (2006). College of Law, Faculty Publications. 109. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/lawfacpub/109 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law, College of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in College of Law, Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Schopp in Law & Psychology Review (2006) 30. Copyright 2006, Law & Psychology Review. Used by permission. Two-EDGED SwoRDS, DANGEROUSNESS, AND EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CAPITAL SENTENCING Robert F. Schopp* I. INTRODUCTION A series of court opinions and a related line of commentary draw at- tention to the need for further inquiry regarding the defensible interpreta- tion and application of dangerousness as a consideration in capital sentenc- ing. The court opinions raise questions regarding the manner in which sentencers should interpret and weigh dangerousness as a factor in capital sentencing. In Penry v. Lynaugh,' the Supreme Court overturned the capital sentence of a mentally retarded