Publications & Testimony

Detroit Free Press October 16, 2004 Even death penalty supporters ought to hope that the U.S. Supreme Court ends the barbaric practice of executing murderers who killed when they were 16 or 17. The United States is virtually alone in permitting the execution of minors. Only six other nations have allowed it since 1990, and those countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China, have practically abandoned using it. Justices have already acknowledged that maturity and mental…

The (Louisville, KY) Courier-Journal October 16, 2004 Editorial Soon, Americans over the age of 18 will go to the polls. No one under 18 may vote. They aren’t considered mature enough. In fact, juveniles aren’t considered mature enough to drink or to smoke, to marry or to sign contracts. They’re not allowed to sit on juries, to make medical decisions — or even go to movies with “mature” content. But, in many states, including Kentucky, 16- and 17-year-olds are held as accountable as adults…

The (Albany, NY) Times Union October 16, 2004 Editorial The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to decide if juveniles should face capital punishment At long last, the U.S. Supreme Court is revisiting an issue it has avoided since 1988: whether the death penalty should be imposed on juveniles who commit capital crimes. The court last had a chance to address the question in 2003, but chose to pass and let the states puzzle it themselves. This time the justices should come down with a clear ruling that…

Springfield (Missouri) News Leader October 16, 2004 Editorial Christopher Simmons committed a horrible crime when he was 17. Simmons and an accomplice broke into a woman’s home, robbed her, tied her and threw her into the Meramec River. He should be punished by spending the rest of his life in prison. His punishment should not be the death penalty — the sentence Simmons is facing. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard Simmons’ appeal. His lawyer argued, in part, that a previous…

The (Staunton, VA) News Leader October 15, 2004 Editorial One of the most important things the U.S. Supreme Court will do during this year’s session will be whether the justices rule that imposing the death penalty for crimes committed by a person under the age of 18 violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. We hope they decide it does — and we are not alone. Before the usual suspects begin picking up their stones chiseled with the letter “L,” we would remind them…

New York’s death penalty remains in abeyance, having been found unconstitutional by the state’s high court. A recent N.Y. Newsday editorial called on lawmakers to carefully examine the fundamental problems with the death penalty before considering any reinstatement legislation. The editorial noted: On the steps of New York City Hall on Thursday, a coalition of death penalty opponents — prominently including City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo…

As the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Roper v. Simmons on October 13, newspapers throughout the country featured editorials and opinion pieces calling on the U.S. to abandon the practice of executing juvenile offenders: The New York Times When the Supreme Court considers an Eighth Amendment challenge, it looks to “evolving standards of decency” — and there has been a steady movement nationally away from the juvenile death penalty. In the 15 years since the Supreme Court last…

St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 14, 2004 Editorial The U.S. Supreme Court may be on the verge of joining the rest of the civilized world in banning the execution of juveniles. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made just one remark during Wednesday’s hour-long argument over whether to execute Christopher Simmons, who was 17 when he murdered Shirley Crook of Fenton, Mo. Justice O’Connor said there was “about the same consensus” against the juvenile death penalty today as there had been against…

University Wire (University of Florida) October 14, 2004 Editorial The Supreme Court has filled its docket with thorny issues during the closing stages of an election in which the court’s future is an important campaign issue. The court heard arguments Wednesday as to whether a 2003 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that decided executing a juvenile offender who committed murder at age 17 would violate the Eighth Amendment, which bans cruel and unusual punishment. The list of nations that…