Kennedy V. Louisiana

[Spcdeeznuttz]

get these in my email.
wtf are they thinking? if anything should allow the death penalty, raping a child should be on the list.


KENNEDY V. LOUISIANA
By a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing an individual to death for raping a child violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The ruling stems from an individual in Louisiana – one of five states that allow the death penalty for child rapists – who was sentenced to death for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

"Evolving standards of decency must embrace and express respect for the dignity of the person, and the pun¬ishment of criminals must conform to that rule." said Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion.

This was the court’s first decision in more than 30 years on whether a crime other than murder can be punished by execution.
Justice Samuel Alito – who was joined by Justices Thomas, Scalia, and Chief Justice Robert in his dissent – wrote that the harm caused by child rapists to the victims and society is immeasurable; adding that “It is the judgment of the Louisiana lawmakers and those in an increasing number of other states that these harms justify the death penalty."
Click on the link below to access the full opinion. If you cannot click on the link, copy and paste it into your browser.

www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-343.pdf

[Epsilon]

Originally Posted by Spcdeeznuttz

get these in my email.
wtf are they thinking? if anything should allow the death penalty, raping a child should be on the list.


KENNEDY V. LOUISIANA
By a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing an individual to death for raping a child violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The ruling stems from an individual in Louisiana – one of five states that allow the death penalty for child rapists – who was sentenced to death for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

"Evolving standards of decency must embrace and express respect for the dignity of the person, and the pun¬ishment of criminals must conform to that rule." said Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion.

This was the court’s first decision in more than 30 years on whether a crime other than murder can be punished by execution.
Justice Samuel Alito – who was joined by Justices Thomas, Scalia, and Chief Justice Robert in his dissent – wrote that the harm caused by child rapists to the victims and society is immeasurable; adding that “It is the judgment of the Louisiana lawmakers and those in an increasing number of other states that these harms justify the death penalty."
Click on the link below to access the full opinion. If you cannot click on the link, copy and paste it into your browser.

www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-343.pdf

I disagree, rape should not have a sentence of death. There is a difference in the severity of murder and rape.
In my opinion, murder, carried out premeditated and only in the most cruel way for certain reasons should even constitute a death sentence. Allowing to have death sentenced on a derranged sexual predator is pushing the governments enforcements of law of life and death.

It's hard to even stomach a government or any organization even holding the power to sentence death as it is. IMO

[Spcdeeznuttz]

I agree that in adult rape cases the death penalty would be too severe.

In my opinion when an adult rapes a child the level of damage both physical and mental warrants the death penalty. In the cited case the girl was 8 years old at the time of the rape and suffered life threatening injuries, may be unable to have children and will probably spend much of her adult life dealing with the mental problems associated with the rape.

I think the court made a poor policy decision.

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by Spcdeeznuttz

I think the court made a poor policy decision.

I think you have mastered the art of the understatement.