Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 12, 2008 3:40:47 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Justices Strike Death Penalty for Child Rape

Posted Jun 25, 08 10:19 AM CDT in US,  Crime & Courts 

(Newser) – The Supreme Court found today that the “death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child,” striking down a Louisiana law as cruel and unusual punishment. While the court split 5-4 on the hot-button issue—swing justice Anthony Kennedy penned the opinion—there has not been an execution in 44 years for a crime that didn’t involve a victim’s death.

The Supreme Court also issued a striking ruling in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, cutting punitive damages by 80%—from $2.5 billion to $500 million. The court found that the company needn’t pay more in punitive damages than it had in real damages, the AP reports. A jury had originally set the punitive figure at $5 billion.

Sources Associated Press, Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Texas Defies UN, Executes Killer

    Aug 6, 08 2:33 AM CDT
    Texas Defies UN, Executes Killer A Mexican national convicted of raping and murdering two girls was executed in Texas yesterday in defiance of an international court. Attorneys for Jose Medellin, 33, had argued that authorities violated an international treaty when Medellin was denied access to Mexican consular officials after his arrest, reports the Houston Chronicle. The United Nations world court ordered a hearing on the issue 4 years ago, but Texas officials refused.   
    More »

  • Supreme Court Goofs Up Key Fact in Child Rape Decision

    Jul 2, 08 2:36 AM CDT
    Supreme Court Goofs Up Key Fact in Child Rape Decision The Supreme Court misconstrued a key fact in reaching its recent decision banning the death penalty for child rape, reports the New York Times. Swing justice Anthony Kennedy mistakenly noted in his decision that child rapists did not face the death penalty in federal jurisdiction. But in fact the rape of a child was made a military capital crime when the military code of justice was revised in 2006. More »

  • Obama Backs Death Penalty for Child Rapists

    Jun 26, 08 6:10 AM CDT
    Obama Backs Death Penalty for Child Rapists Barack Obama joined rival John McCain yesterday in supporting the death penalty for child rapists, the AP reports. The Democratic candidate spoke after the Supreme Court ruled against a Louisiana law allowing capital punishment for child rape, saying it violates the constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The verdict negates similar laws in five other states. More »

  • Exxon Ruling Enrages Alaskan Fishermen

    Jun 25, 08 4:16 PM CDT
    Exxon Ruling Enrages Alaskan Fishermen Today's Supreme Court decision to drastically shrink the punitive damages that Exxon must pay Alaskan fishermen over the Valdez spill has left plaintiffs enraged, cynical, and forced to rethink retirement in some cases, the Anchorage Daily News reports. "This is a total slap in the face," said one of his payout. "This won't even pay off a credit card." More »

  • Supreme Court to Hear $79M Cigarette Verdict for 3rd Time

    Jun 9, 08 1:04 PM CDT
    Supreme Court to Hear $79M Cigarette Verdict for 3rd Time The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a third appeal of Oregon’s $79.5-million punitive-damage award against Philip Morris. The justices have twice sent the verdict back to Oregon’s high court, part of an effort to limit punitive damages to nine times the size of compensatory damages. This time, the AP reports, they will consider only whether Oregon courts ignored their previous ruling. More »

Beach cleanup after Exxon Valdez Oil Spill   (Earth Explorer)
SupremeCourt-Facade   ((c) Cavalier & Co.)
Supreme Court   ((c) Cavalier & Co.)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (
1
 of 5)

Tags

US Supreme Court  • rape  • death penalty  • Exxon Valdez  • punitive damages


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Crime & Courts Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »