1. Does the Eighth Amendment allow the State to prevent live mitigation testimony in favor of a capital defendant based upon financial reasons alone (this was not a COVID case)?

2. If so, does Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586 (1978) mandate the meaningful presentation of mitigation testimony by the defense; and, if so, does video testimony subject to extensive technical difficulties that blunted the impact of the testimony deprive the defendant of his right to meaningfully present mitigation evidence?

Does the Eighth Amendment prohibit preventing live mitigation testimony in a capital case based solely on financial considerations, and does video testimony with significant technical difficulties violate a defendant's right to meaningful mitigation evidence presentation?