concurring in the judgment.
In Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U. S. 153, 231 (1976) (dissenting opinion), I stated: “In Furman v. Georgia, 408 U. S. 238, 314 (1972) (concurring opinion), I set forth at some length my views on the basic issue presented to the Court in these cases. The death penalty, I concluded, is a cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. That continues to be my view.”
*601I then explained in some detail my reasons for reaffirming my position. I continue to adhere to those views in concurring in the judgment of the Court in this case.