Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Sentencing Law and Policy

Criminal Law

: Sentencing Law and Policy

Sixth Circuit panel reinstates federal death sentence

By Douglas A. Berman

This afternoon, I begin the death penalty unit in my sentencing class, and the Sixth Circuit this morning has provided me with a new case to discuss.  In US v. Lawrence, No. 06-4105 (6th Cir. Feb. 11, 2009) (available here), the panel reverses a district judge's determination that a federal death sentence could not stand.  Here is the start of the Sixth Circuit's opinion: Defendant Daryl Lawrence was convicted of armed bank robbery, attempted armed bank robbery, murder, and firearms charges. Two of the counts, Counts Seven and Eight, charged death-eligible offenses. The jury returned a verdict of life imprisonment on Count Seven and a verdict of death on Count Eight. Ruling on defendant?s motion for new trial, the district court held that the jury?s verdicts on Counts Seven and Eight were inconsistent...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).