PA Killer Granted Last Minute Stay of Execution: The Associated Press reports the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Hubert Michael Jr. a stay of execution Thursday. Michael's case is being sent back to a district court judge for further proceedings. Michael's crime is outlined in this news scan.
CA Double Murderer Faces Death Penalty: Demian Bulwa of the San Francisco Chronicle reports a remorseless Nathan Burris was convicted Wednesday of two murders in California. Burris killed his ex-girlfriend and her male friend with a shotgun at the toll plaza where she worked. He was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder, killing multiple victims, and lying in wait which make him eligible for the death penalty. Burris represented himself and often laughed and cursed at the family of his victims throughout the trial. His penalty hearing is set to begin Thursday.
AZ Shooter Gets 7 Life Sentences: The Associated Press reports Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences Thursday. Loughner went on a shooting rampage in Arizona in 2011 that killed six and wounded 13. Loughner had previously pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. Discussion of Loughner's plea is here. Further case details are here. It is not yet known where he will serve his sentence.
CA Death Penalty Fixes May Be On Next Ballot: Sam Stanton and Andy Furrilo of the Sacramento Bee have this article discussing the likelihood of another death penalty proposition on the ballot in 2014. Proposition 34 lost 53-47% on Tuesday. Supporters of California's death penalty, including Criminal Justice Legal Foundation Legal Director Kent Scheidegger, are considering going to voters to resume executions in the state. Legislators and state officials could arguably speed up executions in the state easily, beginning with the 14 on death row who have exhausted all appeals.
CA Double Murderer Faces Death Penalty: Demian Bulwa of the San Francisco Chronicle reports a remorseless Nathan Burris was convicted Wednesday of two murders in California. Burris killed his ex-girlfriend and her male friend with a shotgun at the toll plaza where she worked. He was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder, killing multiple victims, and lying in wait which make him eligible for the death penalty. Burris represented himself and often laughed and cursed at the family of his victims throughout the trial. His penalty hearing is set to begin Thursday.
AZ Shooter Gets 7 Life Sentences: The Associated Press reports Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences Thursday. Loughner went on a shooting rampage in Arizona in 2011 that killed six and wounded 13. Loughner had previously pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. Discussion of Loughner's plea is here. Further case details are here. It is not yet known where he will serve his sentence.
CA Death Penalty Fixes May Be On Next Ballot: Sam Stanton and Andy Furrilo of the Sacramento Bee have this article discussing the likelihood of another death penalty proposition on the ballot in 2014. Proposition 34 lost 53-47% on Tuesday. Supporters of California's death penalty, including Criminal Justice Legal Foundation Legal Director Kent Scheidegger, are considering going to voters to resume executions in the state. Legislators and state officials could arguably speed up executions in the state easily, beginning with the 14 on death row who have exhausted all appeals.
Texas completed an execution tonight.