VICTORY!
VICTORY!
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Constitution forbids the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes, ending a practice used in 19 states.
I’m pleasantly stunned.
VICTORY!
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Constitution forbids the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes, ending a practice used in 19 states.
I’m pleasantly stunned.
March 1st, 2005 at 4:38 pm
Not the best-reasoned of Supreme Court opinions though. Section IV is fluff, and Section III.B left me wondering why the Court was making mostly unsupported findings of fact.
March 1st, 2005 at 4:43 pm
No doubt, it was because of the unrefutably persuasive AMA amicus brief.
March 1st, 2005 at 9:05 pm
You know, but for the anti-abortion and anti-international law rhetoric, Scalia may have gotten it right (at least in terms of responding to the Court’s reasoning).
What I don’t understand - and what potentially could have formed the basis for a better-reasoned ruling - is how the state was able to use age as an aggravating factor. The Court has required that age be admitted as a mitigating factor - has it allowed it into evidence as an aggravating factor too?
March 1st, 2005 at 9:20 pm
Are you nuts? In Scalia’s world a seven year old could be executed.
March 1st, 2005 at 9:34 pm
I agreed with Scalia’s critique of the court’s reasoning - not his application of his own reasoning (which was as wacky and baffling as it normally is).
March 1st, 2005 at 10:00 pm