In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four liberal colleagues joined him, while the four more conservative justices dissented.
There has not been an execution in the United States for a crime that did not also involve the death of the victim in 44 years.
Patrick Kennedy, 43, was sentenced to death for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter in Louisiana. He is one of two people in the United States, both in Louisiana, who have been condemned to death for a rape that was not also accompanied by a killing.
The Supreme Court banned executions for rape in 1977 in a case in which the victim was an adult woman.
So we are back to the supreme court making laws, how refreshing to know that all phases of our government have completely run a muck with America haters trying to destroy this great nation.
Hey supreme court, how about your do YOUR job, and let congress make the laws.
If death is too harsh for child rapers then what is a fitting punishment. I think lethal injection would be too fast. Also, hey Muddy. How ya doom'?
Posted by: Owaren at August 15, 2008 09:00 PMGood Owaren, nice to see you lurking around ;)
Posted by: Muddy at August 16, 2008 01:40 AMGood comment, Owaren.
"I think lethal injection would be too fast."
True.
Julie
Posted by: mrs. muddy at August 16, 2008 03:12 AMHeard what Blizz did to ya. What pricks.
Posted by: Owaren at August 17, 2008 11:26 AM