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SCOTUS Kennedy capital child rape case buzz starting

By Douglas A. Berman

Next week the Supreme Court will hear oral argument on the constitutionality of the death penalty for a child rape offense in Kennedy v. Louisiana.  As evidenced by this article in USA Today, the pre-argument media buzz is starting.  Here are snippets:The Supreme Court will weigh the constitutionality of the death penalty for child rape next week, in the case of a Louisiana man convicted of raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter. The dispute, closely followed by state officials, social workers and defendants' rights groups, marks the first time since 1977 that the justices will consider whether rape can be punished by death.... Several states, including Missouri, have signaled that if the court permits the death penalty for child rape in Louisiana, they may try to enact such laws...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on April 08, 2008 (boomark / email).