U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney has ruled that California's death penalty
system is unconstitutional because executions are so rare.
Of the approximately 900 people sentenced to death in California since voters
bolstered the death penalty in 1978, only 13 have been killed. Judge Carney, an
appointee of President George W. Bush, concludes the dysfunctional system
violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual
punishment.
Where Judge Carney's decision goes from here is uncertain. Attorney General
Kamala Harris could ask the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to review the
case. If that court upholds the decision, it could go to the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Read more
system is unconstitutional because executions are so rare.
Of the approximately 900 people sentenced to death in California since voters
bolstered the death penalty in 1978, only 13 have been killed. Judge Carney, an
appointee of President George W. Bush, concludes the dysfunctional system
violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual
punishment.
Where Judge Carney's decision goes from here is uncertain. Attorney General
Kamala Harris could ask the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to review the
case. If that court upholds the decision, it could go to the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Read more
