The Anti-death Penalty Movement and Conservatives: Associated Press writer Brett Barrouquere reports on the efforts of the anti-death-penalty movement to attract conservative support. The story highlights Montana State Senator Roy Brown. Brown was the 2008 Republican nominee for Governor of Montana, receiving only 33% of the vote in a state carried by John McCain at the top of the ticket. At the National Coalition to Abolish Death Penalty's annual conference, Brown and others showed activists how to argue their case against the death penalty. One way is to point to economics and argue abolishing the death penalty will help solve state budget problems. The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation's Kent Scheidegger disagrees. He says, "The death penalty does not need to cost more than life imprisonment."
A Federal Law That Can Indefinitely Imprison Sexual Predators: United Press International writer Michael Kirkland reports that the Supreme Court will decide whether portions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act are constitutional. A provision of the Act allows the U.S. government to commit indefinitely any federal prisoner who shows signs of being a "sexually dangerous person." The Obama Administration asked for Supreme Court review after an appeal panel found that the provision "exceeds the limits of congressional power and intrudes on the powers reserved for the states." 31 state attorneys general told the Supreme Court that they support the Act. The commitment provision has rarely been used. Out of 15,000 federal sexual offenders imprisoned, only about 100 have faced commitment procedures.
Supreme Court to Decide the Fate of Mumia Abu-Jamal: Reuters writer Jon Hurdle reports that on Tuesday, the Supreme Court should rule on an appeal by the Philadelphia District Attorney who is seeking to have Mumia Abu-Jamal executed. In 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing officer Daniel Faulkner. His conviction has been upheld by numerous courts. If the Supreme Court rules in Abu-Jamal's favor, he will get a new jury trial on his sentencing, and not his conviction.
Suspect Identified by DNA: Michigan Macomb Daily writer Michael P. McConnell reports that crime lab results identified, Antonio Liggins, 19, as the man suspected of robbing and sexually assaulting a woman. Liggins had been identified within several days of the crime as the suspect, but police had to wait eight months for results from the crime lab before prosecutors would press charges. It's reported that Michigan State Police Crime labs have a backlog of more than 17,000 case and 10,000 rape kits. They're unable to test as many cases as last year because of inadequate funding. Hazel Park Police Chief David Niedermeier stated, "we are concerned about the time lag. It's disconcerting that such a violent crime has to be set aside waiting for these DNA test results. But we're happy to get this case behind us and get this individual off the street."
A Federal Law That Can Indefinitely Imprison Sexual Predators: United Press International writer Michael Kirkland reports that the Supreme Court will decide whether portions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act are constitutional. A provision of the Act allows the U.S. government to commit indefinitely any federal prisoner who shows signs of being a "sexually dangerous person." The Obama Administration asked for Supreme Court review after an appeal panel found that the provision "exceeds the limits of congressional power and intrudes on the powers reserved for the states." 31 state attorneys general told the Supreme Court that they support the Act. The commitment provision has rarely been used. Out of 15,000 federal sexual offenders imprisoned, only about 100 have faced commitment procedures.
Supreme Court to Decide the Fate of Mumia Abu-Jamal: Reuters writer Jon Hurdle reports that on Tuesday, the Supreme Court should rule on an appeal by the Philadelphia District Attorney who is seeking to have Mumia Abu-Jamal executed. In 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing officer Daniel Faulkner. His conviction has been upheld by numerous courts. If the Supreme Court rules in Abu-Jamal's favor, he will get a new jury trial on his sentencing, and not his conviction.
Suspect Identified by DNA: Michigan Macomb Daily writer Michael P. McConnell reports that crime lab results identified, Antonio Liggins, 19, as the man suspected of robbing and sexually assaulting a woman. Liggins had been identified within several days of the crime as the suspect, but police had to wait eight months for results from the crime lab before prosecutors would press charges. It's reported that Michigan State Police Crime labs have a backlog of more than 17,000 case and 10,000 rape kits. They're unable to test as many cases as last year because of inadequate funding. Hazel Park Police Chief David Niedermeier stated, "we are concerned about the time lag. It's disconcerting that such a violent crime has to be set aside waiting for these DNA test results. But we're happy to get this case behind us and get this individual off the street."
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