This was the lead case in a group of capital cases which included Proffitt v. Florida, Jurek v. Texas, Woodson v. North Carolina, and Roberts v. Louisiana. In Gregg v. Georgia, the Court sought to give guidance to the states regarding death penalty legislation in light ofFurman. It clearly affirmed the Court’s acceptance of the use of capital punishment.
Coincidentally, the Court this week ruled on the issue of counsel to indigents in capital cases. The case, Martel v. Clair is from California.