WP: Kennedy Reversal Swings Court Against Juvenile Death Penalty

[DeepModem Mom]

Kennedy Reversal Swings Court Against Juvenile Death Penalty

By Charles Lane
Monday, March 7, 2005; Page A17


In banning capital punishment for juvenile offenders last week, the Supreme Court once again demonstrated its pivotal role in domestic and, indeed, world affairs.

The 5 to 4 ruling swept aside laws in 20 states that permitted juries to sentence 16- or 17-year-old murderers to death, thus ending the United States' status as the last country on Earth that sanctioned the execution of those who commit crimes when they are younger than 18.

And, to a large extent, this result was due to a remarkable evolution by a single justice: Anthony M. Kennedy.

It is sometimes said that justices "grow in office," producing opinions and casting votes on the court that confound the expectations of those who appointed them. Kennedy, 68, a 1988 appointee of President Ronald Reagan, has shown his unpredictability in the past. He changed his mind in the middle of a crucial 1992 case, casting a fifth vote to uphold Roe v. Wade; he disappointed conservatives again with a landmark pro-gay-rights opinion in 2003....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11877-2005Mar6.html

[McCamy Taylor]

1. Conservative Shill George Will Attacks Kennedy, Promotes Scalia

as part of the "Who Will Replace Rehnquist Wars?". Will has fallen to a new low, if he is willing to promote killing kids to score political points with his base. They should melt his Pulizter Prize.

:mad:

[cosmicdot]

2. "...the last country on Earth..." to do this ... wow ... n/m

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I was a bit surprised that that powerful phrase...

was not edited out of Mr. Lane's story.

[Zorra]

4. Hey, I knew I was fully capable of making rational, well thought out

decisions when I was 16. I knew for an absolute fact at that time that my lack of life experience more than made up for my poor judgement.

It wasn't until I was in my late 20's that I understood how amazingly lucky I was to have survived my late teens without thoughtlessly harming myself or someone else.

"And, to a large extent, this result was due to a remarkable evolution by a single justice: Anthony M. Kennedy."

Good for Justice Kennedy, living proof that even a conservative can evolve into a decent, rational human being.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Why is it that conservative justices often become liberal as time passes?

But liberal justices never become conservative? Before answering remember that SC justices are expected to be some of the most intelligent and honest people in America...

Don