Supreme Court Justice Stevens Wants End to Executions

[megimoo]

Justice Stevens Upholds Ky. Lethal Injection, Calls Executions 'Pointless'

Justice John Paul Stevens, the Supreme Court's most senior member, took aim at the entire system of capital punishment Wednesday, writing in an opinion that it was a "pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes."

Stevens' stance came to light in his opinion on Kentucky's lethal injection protocol, which the court, including Stevens, upheld Wednesday in a 7-2 decision. There had been an unofficial moratorium on executions while the court mulled the case.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/SCOTUS/story?id=4668342&page=1

It is the first time 87-year-old Stevens has called on states to stop executions entirely.

Stevens wrote, "the risk of executing innocent defendants can be entirely eliminated by treating any penalty more severe than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as constitutionally excessive."

In essence, Stevens has sent a signal that, while he recognizes the court has, in the past, found the death penalty to be constitutional, he thinks it's now time for state legislatures, Congress and the courts to reconsider.

He wrote how current attempts to "retain the death penalty as part of our law" are the "product of habit and inattention, rather than an acceptable deliberative process" that weighs the costs of administering the penalty against its benefits.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/SCOTUS/story?id=4668342&page=1

[Chris_]

I wish no ill will, but I wish he would walk a mile in the shoes of the victims and the families thereof of the scum he wants to spare.

[Chris_]

He wrote how current attempts to "retain the death penalty as part of our law" are the "product of habit and inattention, rather than an acceptable deliberative process" that weighs the costs of administering the penalty against its benefits.

Yes, we cling to our mindless ways and just kill since we are too bitter to consider the consequences of our actions.

[DixieBelle]

Methinks he realizes that he's now 87 years old and is looking back on his life and wondering if he shouldn't hedge his bets. He upheld the DP in 1976 and now he's reversing his opinion? Scalia nailed him good -

Stevens' reversal on the death penalty was termed "astounding" by his colleague on the bench, Antonin Scalia, who wrote a concurring opinion to blast Stevens. He said that Stevens' opinion was emblematic of a judiciary that rules by "fiat" and substitutes its own values for those of state legislatures elected by the people. "It is Justice Stevens' experience that reigns over all," he wrote.

He also, without saying so, labeled Stevens as something of a hypocrite because Stevens invoked the protracted nature and cost of modern death penalty litigation as one reason to dispose of it.

"Those costs, those burdens, and that lack of finality are in large measure the creation of Justice Stevens and other Justices opposed to the death penalty, who have encumbered [it]," he wrote.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/justice_stevens_change_of_hear.html

I knew that the case would end up becoming a soapbox for the DP.  This case was about the means and they (the court) are trying to turn into a debate about the ends.

[Lord Undies]

writing in an opinion that it was a "pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes."

Wrong, you ancient black-robed Bozo!  The death penalty is neither pointless (like your opinion) nor needless (like your attempt to change the subject). 

The death penalty honors life.  It proves we honor life so greatly and value life so highly that we are willing to end the life of anyone who maliciously deprives others of theirs.   

I need to find what Stevens has to say about abortion.  Is abortion needless and pointless?  How much does that practice of cheapening human life contribute to society or public purpose.     

[asdf2231]

Call him a Whambulance and stick his ass in a nursing home already.

[DixieBelle]

writing in an opinion that it was a "pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes."

Wrong, you ancient black-robed Bozo!  The death penalty is neither pointless (like your opinion) nor needless (like your attempt to change the subject). 

The death penalty honors life.  It proves we honor life so greatly and value life so highly that we are willing to end the life of anyone who maliciously deprives others of theirs.  

I need to find what Stevens has to say about abortion.  Is abortion needless and pointless?  How much does that practice of cheapening human life contribute to society or public purpose.     

Well he's held up by NARAL as their "strongest pro choice supporter". 

He's a sly one too - http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/supremecourtjustices/2004-06-02-stevens-profile_x.htm

[Dixie*Darling]

He's just an old buzzard contemplating his demise and wanting to leave his mark.
 
Check your Depends Stevens!  There's your mark! 

[Dixie*Darling]

writing in an opinion that it was a "pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes."

Wrong, you ancient black-robed Bozo!  The death penalty is neither pointless (like your opinion) nor needless (like your attempt to change the subject). 

The death penalty honors life.  It proves we honor life so greatly and value life so highly that we are willing to end the life of anyone who maliciously deprives others of theirs. 

I need to find what Stevens has to say about abortion.  Is abortion needless and pointless?  How much does that practice of cheapening human life contribute to society or public purpose.     

Bravo!  Well said Undies!