Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Juvenile Death Penalty Among Cases to Be Heard in New Supreme Court Term, 10/04/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/scotus_10-04.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What does the Supreme Court do?What are some important Supreme Court decisions?

2. How might a Supreme Court decision affect you, your family or friends?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What are some cases coming before the Supreme Court this term?

The Supreme Court begins its new session this week with a full rundown of controversial cases to consider, including teens and the death penalty, medical marijuana, and the use of drug sniffing dogs during traffic stops.

What decision will the Supreme Court revisit?
In considering the juvenile death penalty, the Supreme Court will revisit its own 1988 ruling that executing anyone under the age of 16 was unconstitutional. That ruling did not extend to older juveniles between the ages of 16 and 18.

2. What case sparked the most recent juvenile death penalty debate?

In 1986, 17-year-old Christopher Simmons was accused of raping and killing a woman in Missouri. A lower court in the state convicted Simmons and sentenced him to death. In 2003, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned Simmons' sentence, ruling that the execution of 16- and 17-year-old murderers was unconstitutional.

What questions will the Supreme Court consider when deciding if the juvenile death penalty is constitutional?
As part of the review, the Supreme Court justices will focus on several key questions: Does the 8th Amendment of the Constitution that bars "cruel and unusual" punishment prevent the execution of juveniles? Does the fact that most states now bar the execution of juveniles, mean that the country as a whole is moving away from the juvenile death penalty? If so, would the practice qualify as "unusual" and therefore compel the High Court to outlaw it?

3. What countries currently allow the execution of juvenile offenders?

Another factor the judges might consider is whether the views of the international community should have an impact on the United States. According to the human rights group Amnesty International, since 2000 the only countries, besides the United States, to execute juvenile offenders were Iran, Pakistan, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. China and Pakistan have since abolished the juvenile death penalty.

4. Which two justices will be pivotal in the juvenile death penalty decision?

The outcome is expected to hinge on two judges: Justices O'Connor and Kennedy, whose centrist views on many issues will play a key role in many of this year's decisions.

5. Why is the current court so historic and unique?

The nine justices have been together now for more than ten years -- making this the longest running court since the early 19th century.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think about the juvenile death penalty?

2. Do you think the death penalty deters people who are thinking of committing a murder?

3. Regardless of whether you agree with the death penalty, do you think 17-year-olds are old enough to be held responsible for their actions and treated like adults?

4. Research another case before the Supreme Court this year. What are the legal questions raised by the case? How would you rule?

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.