Featured Articles

Scheduled Execution

November 20, 2008 17:55

Texas is scheduled to carry out its 18th execution of 2008 tonight in Huntsville. It would be the 423rd in the state since 1982. It is the last scheduled execution for the state this year.AP has this report on the... Texas is scheduled to carry out its 18th execution of 2008...

The Lethal Injection Impasse in North Carolina

December 01, 2008 20:33

North Carolina's Independent Weekly has, "Resume executions or keep the ban?" It's reported by Bob Geary.Now that the legal battle over a doctor's role in death row executions is nearing a conclusion, the issue of capital punishment in North Carolina...North Carolina's Independent Weekly has,...

Justices Stevens and Thomas on Race and the Death Penalty

October 21, 2008 15:18

"Two Justices Clash Over Race and Death Penalty," is the Washington Post report by Jerry Markon. The sensitive issue of race and the death penalty triggered an unusual public debate yesterday between two Supreme Court justices. In respectful but pointed..."Two Justices Clash Over Race and...

Time to End the Death Penalty in Maryland

December 02, 2008 17:36

That's the title of an OpEd in the Baltimore Examiner by Michael May, an attorney and former Baltimore police officer. LINKI spent 10 years as a law enforcement officer, including seven in the Baltimore Police Department. So I am no...That's the title of an OpEd in the Baltimore Examiner by Michael...

The Election's Impact on the Federal Judiciary

October 24, 2008 17:37

National Law Journal has a web-only article, "Election's outcome could have seismic effect on federal courts," reported by Pamela MacLean.Republican Presidents have appointed more than half of the current 179 federal appellate judges, but that could rise dramatically to 74%...National Law Journal...

Reaction to Maryland Commission Call for Abolition

November 14, 2008 16:15

"A needed debate," is today's Baltimore Sun editorial.Maryland's death penalty law violates the most basic standards of fairness and decency. That's the conclusion of a state commission on capital punishment, and it should prompt citizens to insist that lawmakers bring..."A needed...

Recent Articles

Craig Watkins on the Rivas Execution

March 22, 2012 14:44

D Magazine posts the interview, "Dallas DA Craig Watkins on Witnessing His First Execution." It's by Zac Crain, and it appears in the April issue. D Magazine: You didn’t prosecute the Texas 7 case. Why did you feel the need...D Magazine posts the interview, "Dallas DA Craig Watkins on...

The Alabama Lethal Injection Challenge

March 22, 2012 14:35

"Court revives Alabama inmate's execution appeal," is the AP report via the Montgomery Advertiser. A federal appeals court has revived an Alabama death row inmate's challenge of his state's new three-drug lethal injection protocol. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of..."Court revives Alabama...

Supreme Court Rules on Ineffective Assistance Case

March 21, 2012 15:21

Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling in Martinez v. Ryan is available in Adobe .pdf format. The ABA Criminal Justice Section provides this summary of the ruling: In an opinion by Justice Kennedy, the Court reversed the decision of the Court of...Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling in Martinez v. Ryan is...

Juvenile Sentencing Issues Return to Supreme Court

March 20, 2012 20:09

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the cases of Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs on the constitutionality of life without parole sentences for 14 year-old juveniles convicted of murder. It seeks to refine the...This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral...