All this morning, there have been almost minute by minute updates on the web regarding whether or not the appellate attorneys feverishly fighting to stop this morning’s execution of Kenneth Biros by the State of Ohio will be successful. Biros’ attorneys are literally banging on the doors of the United States Supreme Court, asking that
December 2009
What the U.S. Supreme Court is Telling Attorneys Representing Defendants in Death Penalty Cases – Considering Porter and VanHook
Posted in Fact Issues - Death Penalty
In yesterday’s New York Times, Professor Linda Greenhouse gives us a thought-provoking analysis of the “selective empathy” of the current U.S. Supreme Court as she compares the recent decisions in Porter v. McCollum (Porter lives) and Bobby v. Van Hook (VanHook dies). After discussing in detail both opinions, Greenhouse concludes:
Setting the Porter and the
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US Supreme Court Recognizes Florida Combat Veteran’s Post Traumatic Stress as Mitigating Factor Barring Death Penalty in Porter v. McCollum
Posted in Death Penalty - Federal
Perhaps discussion of the November 30, 2009, opinion by the United States Supreme Court in Porter v. McCollum (08-10537) is best begun by reading the first paragraph of the opinion itself:
Petititioner George Porter is a veteran who was both wounded and decorated for his active participation in two major engagements during the Korean
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