Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

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A Shift in the Court

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Jason Kleinman is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He is a graduate of University of Michigan.

Though recent statistics have shown the public supports a shift away from executions, this week our nation’s highest court ruled in favor of a Kansas law

that requires a death sentence when jurors find that the “aggravating circumstances” supporting execution appear to be equal to the “mitigating factors” arguing against execution.

This was the second time that this case was argued in front of the Supreme Court. The first was while Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was still on the court. Her growing skepticism of capital punishment was replaced by newly appointed Justice Samuel Alito, who was called in to break the 4-4 split. Justice Alito allied himself with Justices Scalia, Roberts, Kennedy, and Thomas, who wrote the majority opinion.

The Supreme Court has been especially busy lately, taking on a wide array of new cases, ranging from antitrust to global warming. It will be interesting to continue to watch how Justice Alito shifts the court.

Posted by Religious Action Center on June 28, 2006 5:39 PM |

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