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March 01, 2005
Supreme Court Bars Executions of Minors, New Mexico House Votes to End Death Penalty, Rachel King in Sacramento
Dear FCL Supporter,
In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that executing persons convicted of committing murder(s) when they were juveniles is unconstitutional. The majority decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy and was joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Sandra Day O'Connor dissented.
"The age of 18 is the point where society draws the line for many reasons between childhood and adulthood," wrote Justice Kennedy, adding that "It is, we conclude, the age at which the line for death eligibility ought to rest."
Currently, 19 states permit the execution of minors, though only Texas, Virginia and Oklahoma have executed minors in the past decade.
In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing persons who are mentally retarded is unconstitutional.
Read the full text of the Supreme Court's decision by pointing your web browser here:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01mar20051115/
www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04pdf/03-633.pdf
Also today, the New Mexico House passed legislation to abolish the death penalty. Five Democrats joined 33 Democrats to pass the measure, 38 to 31. This is the first time that either chamber of the New Mexico Legislature has voted to repeal the death penalty. The bill has to pass the State Senate where its fate is uncertain.
For the full story, point your web browser here:
http://www.sfnewmexican.com/news/11091.html
Sacramento Area Only:
Meet the Author - Rachel King
Friday, March 4th at 12 pm
The Avid Reader
1003 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-7323
Rachel King, author of Don't Kill in Our Names: Families of Murder Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty, will read excerpts from her captivating new book Capital Consequences. Ms. King, State Campaign Coordinator for the ACLU's Capital Punishment Project, works with state affiliates on their legislative campaigns to eliminate and reform death penalty laws.
This book tells the stories of the forgotten victims of capital punishment--the families of the convicted. Regardless of which side of the death penalty issue you are on, this book will lead you to pause and consider that all acts-criminal and retributive - have broader human implications than we are sometimes willing to realize.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
http://www.fclca.org
E-mail: JimL@fclca.org
Phone: (916) 443-3734
Fax: (916) 448-6109
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