Final answer:
A guilty conviction of Second Degree Murder in Louisiana does not automatically lead to the death penalty; Supreme Court cases and precedents influence the applicability and imposition of capital punishment in such cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
A defendant found guilty of Second Degree Murder in the state of Louisiana does not automatically face the death penalty. According to the Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Louisiana, the death penalty is unconstitutional for crimes not involving murder or a crime against the state, such as treason.
This precedent, along with the fact that Edmund v. Florida disallows a death sentence for felons not directly responsible for a killing, suggests that a second-degree murder conviction alone would not warrant a death penalty sentence.
Moreover, cases such as Gregg v. Georgia and Jurek v. Texas support the constitutionality of death penalty statutes that provide clear and narrow criteria for imposition of the death penalty, typically through weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Therefore, it is important that each case is evaluated individually, with consideration for the specifics and legal guidance provided by state and federal precedents.
If a defendant were to be found guilty, sentencing would involve a careful consideration of the law and circumstances, possibly guided by established sentencing guidelines and the jury's recommendation if capital punishment is sought by the prosecution.