Apr 01 Supreme Court rules against Missouri inmate with rare health issue By Associated Press The Supreme Court said Monday that Missouri can execute an inmate who argued his medical condition will result in severe pain if he is given death-causing drugs. Continue reading
Apr 18 What's next in the fight over Arkansas executions By Laura Santhanam The fight for Davis’ life escalated through a series of appeals and counter arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court late Monday. Without knowing if the court would offer an opinion, prison personnel preemptively served him his last meal. Continue reading
Apr 17 Should states ban the death penalty for people with severe mental illness? By Rebecca Beitsch, Stateline Legislators in at least seven states have proposed bills this year to prohibit the death penalty for people who suffered from a serious mental illness at the time of their crime. Continue reading
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