Alito ready to break tie in death penalty case

[Judi Lynn]

April 25, 2006, 11:40PM
Alito ready to break tie in death penalty case
Ruling on Kansas law is being closely watched to gauge court on execution

By PATTY REINERT
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - New Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito prepared to break a tie Tuesday as the high court heard arguments for the second time in a case that will determine the constitutionality of Kansas' death penalty law.

The justices first heard arguments in Kansas v. Marsh in December. But when Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a swing voter on death penalty cases, retired before the court announced a decision, the remaining justices apparently were tied 4-4.

Now that Alito has taken his seat on the bench as O'Connor's successor, the case is being closely watched as an indicator of how the newly formed court of Chief Justice John Roberts will view death-penalty cases. Alito, who asked several questions of each side, did not indicate how he might vote.

At issue in this case is whether Kansas' death penalty law, passed in 1994, violates the U.S. Constitution by requiring a death sentence in cases where jurors conclude that either execution or life in prison would be equally just.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3819792.html

[BlueManDude]

1. I guess we'll find out how "pro-life" he is soon enuf. n/t

[Demeter]

2. Oh Goody

Let me dust off the "I told you so!" button, bullhorn, and billboard set.....

[Toucano]

3. Is there any real doubt? n/t

[superconnected]

4. I think the republicans are only pro-life as long as it punnishes

pregnant teens for having sex and the terminally ill living in pain or being kept alive long after they are brain dead.

The idea of them letting someone live who wants to, when they could punnish him by killing him, is not possible. They would only let him live if he was terminally ill - in pain and begging to die. It punnishes him more.

If you want to truly know how pro-life a republican is, look at their health care plan for the people.