| Story:
Supreme Court Declares Juvenile Death Penalty Unconstitutional, 03/02/05
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. What law affecting juvenile offenders did the Supreme Court abolish on March 1?
2. Was it a unanimous decision?
3. What was Justice Anthony Kennedy's argument for voting against the juvenile death penalty?
4. What was the court's stance on executing 16 to 18 year olds prior to Tuesday's decision?
5. Why did some civil rights groups want to see the juvenile death penalty abolished?
6. Which states allowed the execution of people under the age of 18?
7. What will now happen to the juvenile offenders currently on death row?
8. What is the argument against imposing the death penalty on teens?
9. What is the argument for keeping the death penalty for juveniles? Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. Are teens too young to know the difference between right and wrong and, in your opinion, should they be shielded from the death penalty if they commit murder? 2. Assume you are a judge making the decision about whether to outlaw the death penalty; what argument would you make to the family of a murder victim? 3. What are the issues of race surrounding the death penalty? Research the numbers of criminals executed. Based on the racial breakdown of those criminals, what picture does it paint about the judicial system? Is there a problem or is the system working? Write a 500-800 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |