In a forum hosted by the New Voters Project, U.S. Presidential candidates George Bush and John Kerry expressed their views on executing juvenile offenders. “Federal law prohibits execution of those under 18 when the offense was committed, and I see no reason to change that statute,” said President Bush. Senator John Kerry stated, “I do not think that executing minors is good policy.” (Knight-Ridder, October 17, 2004). On October 13th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Roper v. Simmons, a case that will determine whether the execution of juvenile offenders is constitutional. See Juvenile Death Penalty. See also, Positions on Capital Punishment of the 2004 Presidential Candidates.
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- Death Penalty Information Center (2025, March 14). NEW VOICES: Bush and Kerry Express Views on Executing Juvenile Offenders. Retrieved October 2, 2026, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-bush-and-kerry-express-views-on-executing-juvenile-offenders
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW VOICES: Bush and Kerry Express Views on Executing Juvenile Offenders.” Last modified March 14, 2025. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-bush-and-kerry-express-views-on-executing-juvenile-offenders.
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW VOICES: Bush and Kerry Express Views on Executing Juvenile Offenders.” Death Penalty Information Center, 14 Mar. 2025, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-bush-and-kerry-express-views-on-executing-juvenile-offenders. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.