[Caipirabob]

This was a rpocedureal vote. The Supreme court declined to hear a complaint that racism was involved in the sentencing as the defendent was black. This was prior to Alito being sworn in and this particular vote was his first, and pretty much already decided.

[AntiGuv]

The Supreme court declined to hear a complaint that racism was involved in the sentencing as the defendent was black.

Umm.. That was one of several appeals filed yesterday, and it was not the appeal in which Alito split with Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas. The 6-3 split decision involved a last minute appeal challenging lethal injection as "cruel and unusual" - the same as in the two Florida executions that were stayed this week.

[AntiGuv]

PS. And it's worth mentioning that if the Supreme Court is about to begin staying all executions while the lethal injection challenge is pending, there aren't gonna be any executions for a while..

[trebb]

I agree - folks are making too much of it. It would have gone the same way even if he had voted with the conservatives, so his vote affected nothing except people's emotions. Plus, having not been fully engaged, it would seem reasonable that he would rather err on the side of life and let the game be played out.