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talkpolitics2010-03-07 10:05 am
dv8nation.livejournal.com) wrote in talkpolitics2010-03-07 10:05 am
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Texas Judge Rules Death Penalty Unconstitutional
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6899748.html
Of course, this was quickly followed by some backpeddling. “He did not rule that the death penalty is unconstitutional,” said Mark Bennett, a criminal defense lawyer. “He ruled that a procedure that allows the execution of innocent people is unconstitutional.”
Now odds are this ruling will get tossed out by an appellate court. But that it actually happened is fairly remarkable in and of itself. For those not from the US Texas is regarded, with good reason, as the most death penalty happy state in the union. I'm not so optimistic as to think this is the start of a trend. But I do think it's one more sign that the old order in Texas is fading.
Of course, this was quickly followed by some backpeddling. “He did not rule that the death penalty is unconstitutional,” said Mark Bennett, a criminal defense lawyer. “He ruled that a procedure that allows the execution of innocent people is unconstitutional.”
Now odds are this ruling will get tossed out by an appellate court. But that it actually happened is fairly remarkable in and of itself. For those not from the US Texas is regarded, with good reason, as the most death penalty happy state in the union. I'm not so optimistic as to think this is the start of a trend. But I do think it's one more sign that the old order in Texas is fading.