Court strikes down NY's death penalty

New York Newsday ^ | June 24, 2004 | Andrew Smith

[areafiftyone]

Typical - not that NY would ever use it anyway.

[adam_az]

It's actually JUDICIAL REVIEW that's unconstitutional!!!

Stupid courts.

[cyborg]

I love my state. I love my senators. I love my governor. Did I leave anyone else out?

[Glenn]

Did I leave anyone else out?

Well, yeah.

me

[lonevoice]

Out of control judicial system ping

[cyborg]

Better to get rid of the death penalty because it'll never be used. The establishment has more important things to do like prosecute military veterans protecting their children from invaders,etc.

[Alberta's Child]

The court said that instruction could coerce jurors into imposing a death sentence they felt was inappropriate to prevent the defendant from ever being freed.

What makes this decision idiotic is that the specific purpose of the instruction was to make sure the jurors understood that the defendant wouldn't automatically be freed (i.e., he would serve a life sentance) if they couldn't agree on a capital sentence.

It's no big deal, really. As someone else pointed out, the Sisters of Charity will execute someone before the State of New York ever does.

[b4its2late]

Big deal if it's valid or not. NY liberals will never allow it to be used.

[b4its2late]

Do you have a democrat House rep too like I do? If so, you left that out.....

[OldFriend]

LOL.......NY has a death penalty?

For unborn babies but never for convicted murderers.

[presidio9]

I love my senators.

Gross. I thought you were a NYer.

[cyborg]

I am. Resistance is futile. No use fighting! Maybe it was Schumer's boring speech that got to me.

[cyborg]

I got the triple threat... Carolyn McCarthy who I hope my mayor James Garner can unseat.

[savedbygrace]

Sounds like more legislating from the bench. "It's our way or the highway."

[b4its2late]

Eee gads. But I'd say we are both about equally in deep doo dah......On the other hand, we could be in Taxichuessets.

[mewzilla]

Just one more reason why I wish the red bits of NYS would secede from the blue bits. We need our own state, darn it!

[lilylangtree]

The perp was convicted of 1st degree murder of a jogger. NY Court of Appeals reminds a person of SCOTUS. The complete judicial system should be overhauled and automated. Replace judges with AI. Start with SCOTUS. Imagine the savings. All the system needed would be to program sentencing as the laws were passed.

[cyborg]

You're right...imagine being under Ted Kennedy (sorry couldn't resist! LOL)

[bondjamesbond]

Is the jury instruction true? If the jury fails to vote unanimously for Death or Life Without Parole, is it possible the criminal may get parole sometime in the future?

If this is, in fact, true, what is the harm in letting the jury know the facts?

I'm not a death penalty supporter, but this decision is just silly!