Dec 21 Death sentences decline sharply as public attitudes shift By Sam Hananel, Associated Press Only 30 people were sentenced to death in the United States this year, the lowest number since the early 1970s. Continue reading
Nov 27 Death penalty and mental disability at issue for justices By Michael Graczyk, Associated Press The U.S. Supreme Court is set to examine whether Texas is trying to put to death a convicted killer who's intellectually disabled, which would make him ineligible. Continue reading
Apr 06 Executions spiked in 2015, highest level in 25 years, Amnesty International report finds By Dominique Bonessi A new report by Amnesty International reveals that there were at least 1,634 executions worldwide last year, the most since 1989. Continue reading
Mar 03 Watch 5:14 News Wrap: Big tech supports Apple’s defiance of court order By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, a dozen major tech companies, including Facebook, Google and Microsoft, filed briefs supporting Apple’s refusal to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone despite federal court order. Also, Florida lawmakers approved a bill that could reinstate… Continue watching
Apr 29 Watch 3:47 News Wrap: LA County OKs sheriff’s dept. abuse settlement By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Wednesday, Los Angeles County approved a settlement over systematic abuses of minorities. Under the settlement, the sheriff’s department agreed to three years of federal monitoring. Also, the government reported today that the first quarter GDP rose… Continue watching
Jun 13 Oklahoma execution team failed to place IV in Clayton Lockett’s vein, according independent autopsy By Jaywon Choe Preliminary results from an autopsy conducted on the Oklahoma inmate involved in last April’s botched execution bolster claims that prison officials failed to properly administer the lethal dose of drugs used in the procedure. Continue reading
Mar 03 Marcia Coyle explains today’s Supreme Court arguments on IQ and the death penalty By Marcia Coyle Twelve years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, held that the execution of mentally retarded persons violated the Constitution. On Monday, the justices returned to this area of the law to examine how one state determines who… Continue reading
Mar 03 Supreme Court considers state IQ guidelines for executions By Mark Sherman, Associated Press The case being argued Monday at the court centers on how authorities determine who is eligible to be put to death, 12 years after the justices prohibited the execution of the mentally disabled. Continue reading
Sep 20 Watch Troy Davis Case in Georgia Rekindles Debate Over Death Penalty A parole board in Georgia has rejected clemency for inmate Troy Davis, who is slated to be executed Wednesday. Uproar over the case has revived questions about how the death penalty is applied. Gwen Ifill talks to The Heritage Foundation's… Continue watching
Jun 25 Watch Justices Cut Valdez Damages, Rule on Child Rape The Supreme Court rejected use of the death penalty for those convicted of child rape Wednesday and cut the punitive damages awarded for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle recaps the decisions. Continue watching