[EternalVigilance]

Great point.

That’s also one of the arguments against rape and incest exceptions on abortion.

[Political Junkie Too]

It's true that the "corruption of blood" clause in the Constitution pertains to treason, that is, that the families of a treasonist will not also be punished for the crime. I guess that in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, entire family lines would be wiped out if someone committed a crime against the crown.

That said, given SCOTUS' penchant for finding emanations from penumbras, it's not too much of a stretch to find that the ban on "corruption of blood" would apply to any criminal act, not just treason. The common exception might be that spouses or children often become responsible for the unpaid debts of a deceased parent, or for unpaid criminal penalties. I don't think that debts get forgiven when someone dies, they revert to the estate.

-PJ