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Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First Step

By Jeralyn, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 07:19:36 PM EST
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Now that the Supreme Court has determined that the juvenile death penalty violates evolving global standards of human decency and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, isn't it time for the Court to take it another step forward and abolish the death penalty for everyone?

Ivan Eland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Peace & Liberty at The Independent Institute makes the case here.

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    Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First Step | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:47:23 PM EST
    Unlikely to happen in the near future. As much as I agree with the effect of this ruling, it was made on poor reasoning, including the basis that 17 year olds are fundamentally immature and unable to comprehend the effects of their actions, as well as citing international reasons which only serves to piss off the conservatives even more.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:27:19 PM EST
    It's that much more likely that innocent people will lose their lives as sociopaths discern society's quivering impotence.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#3)
    by scarshapedstar on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:56:22 PM EST
    "poor reasoning, including the basis that 17 year olds are fundamentally immature and unable to comprehend the effects of their actions" I have one ex-girlfriend who will tell you that this is actually pretty sound reasoning.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 08, 2005 at 12:42:11 AM EST
    LOL. Well if 17 year olds are too immature to understand that their actions have consequences, then what are they doing driving? Up goes the driving age to 18. It's that much more likely that innocent people will lose their lives as sociopaths discern society's quivering impotence. Yes...because life in jail without possibility of parole, daily threat of prison violence, rape, etc., is NO BIG DEAL. I think I'll go kill someone now.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#5)
    by Aaron on Tue Mar 08, 2005 at 06:21:33 AM EST
    This is an issue best advanced through persuasion, not litigation. That is, through state legislatures, and state ballot initiatives. Part of the reason progressive politics have suffered such a hard slap-down in recent years is the tendency to short-cut the process of persuasion by instead trying to convince a friendly judge to effect broad social changes that could not be achieved at the ballot box. I will grant that sometimes this is necessary, and conservative groups use similar tactics on other issues, but the voting public at large is far more concerned about (and offended by) "activist judges" who extend civil rights laws than those who rewrite tort laws to shield corporations.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#6)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 08, 2005 at 07:56:38 AM EST
    Bendito - Why are capital states always right at or near the top in homicide rates? So much for your moribund deterrence theory.Try stretching that imagination a little.

    Re: Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 08, 2005 at 03:25:48 PM EST
    It is not right to kill a human being either by our own hands, or the judiciary system's hands.

    Ending Juvenile Death Penalty : Just a First Step | 7 comments (7 topical)