Supreme Court Bars Death Penalty for Juvenile Killers

In a huge move, The Supreme Court forbid the execution of minors (under 17) at the time of the execution:

The 5-4 decision throws out the death sentences of about 70 juvenile murderers and bars states from seeking to execute minors for future crimes.

The executions, the court said, were unconstitutionally cruel.

It was the second major defeat at the high court in three years for supporters of the death penalty. Justices in 2002 banned the execution of the mentally retarded, also citing the Constitution's Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments.

The New York Times has a great article about this. Another great step.

Cross Posted On The Deadline Blog

Comments

[MAUSCHIN]

THIS WAS A HUGE MISTAKE--WE HAVE SO MANY LARGE MURDEROUS GANGS THAT WILL MAIME AND THRILL-
KILL--PROTECT THYSELF IS THE ONLY WAY--AS KILLERS WILL BE HOUSED-FED-CLOTHED-EDUCATED-MEDICATED-AND PREACHED TO FOR 50 YEARS--THAT'S A HUGE BURDEN ON ANY SOCIETY==NOT TO EVEN MENTION THE LIFETIME OF TEARS AND GRIEF OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE MURDERED!!

[tuckergurl]

I don't agree but I think that from my blog and the work I do around the death penalty, that's probably apparent. Many studies have shown that people under 18's brains are not fully formed yet and I can even refer you to those if you'd like. We're all entitled to our own opinions though. As I make them a bit clearer on another blog that I sometimes write for www.deadlinethemovie.com.

I have to say that as someone who has lost family members to homicide (three in fact), I don't feel as if the death penalty would bring any of those people back. But again, we all grieve in our own ways.

[Brianna &Barbara]

We think they should ban the death penalty