Trump Praises China for Killing Drug Traffickers
The president thinks executions will help stop the flow of "fentanol" into the United States.
Death Penalty
Death and the Shadow Docket
The Supreme Court's efforts to shift procedures in death penalty litigation.
In the Space of One Minute, Joe Biden Defends the Death Penalty for Drug Dealers, Asset Forfeiture, and Mandatory Minimums
This 1991 Senate floor speech shows Biden's central role in crafting disastrous crime policies.
Texas Would Rather Ban All Chaplains from Execution Chambers Than Placate One Buddhist Inmate in His Final Moments
Equal treatment under the law can mean everyone is treated equally poorly
Georgia Lawmakers Have Introduced a Bill to End the Death Penalty
The bill was introduced by Republicans and co-sponsored by Democrats.
Brett Kavanaugh Explains Why He Voted to Grant Buddhist Inmate's Stay of Execution
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 last night to grant Patrick Murphy's petition for a stay.
Supreme Court Stays Execution in Death Penalty/Religious Liberty Case
The facts of this case are very similar to those of Dunn v. Ray, a recent ruling in which the Justice let the execution proceed, and thereby attracted a firestorm of criticism.
This Man Didn't Kill Anyone. Texas Plans To Execute Him Tonight Anyway. (UPDATE: Supreme Court Blocks Execution)
Texas' law of parties is to blame.
Will One of Arizona's More Vocal Drug Warriors Get a Seat on the State's Supreme Court?
Years after the state legalized medical marijuana, Maricopa County's top attorney served as a barrier.
Wyoming State Senator Invokes Jesus Dying to Defend Death Penalty
There's so much wrong with her argument.
The Execution of Domineque Ray
Some troubling uncertainties in a case of troubling allegations of religious discrimination
Supreme Court Rejects Stay of Execution for Alabama Inmate After Imam Not Allowed in Chamber
The Alabama prison allows a Christian chaplain in the execution chamber to pray with death row inmates, but it refused to let an imam inside.
Keep Feds Out of Cop Killer Cases
Sen. Tom Cotton pushes a poison pill amendment to a vital criminal justice reform bill.
James Fields Killed Heather Heyer Because of Her Opinions, and Now the Government Is Trying to Do the Same to Him
The federal case against the Charlottesville murderer illustrates how hate crime laws punish people for their bigoted beliefs.
China's Xi Fools Another U.S. President With Promises of a Fentanyl Crackdown
And once again, Trump is distracted from real policy by symbolic brutality.
Texas is Trying to Execute a Man for a Murder He Didn't Commit
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a recommendation to relieve him of execution.
Alleged Synagogue Shooter May Be a Monster, but He Shouldn't Be Executed
No matter how heinous the crime, the state shouldn't be in the business of killing its citizens.
Washington State Supreme Court Strikes Down Death Penalty
According to the court, "The death penalty is invalid because it is imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner."
Saudi Arabia Wants To Execute a Female Activist for Protesting the Government
Israa al-Ghomgham would be the first female activist to be executed in Saudi Arabia.
Death Row Inmate to State: Just Kill Me Already
Convicted murderer Scott Dozier has already had his execution postponed twice. He says the state should "just get it done."
Catholic Church Changes Doctrine To Oppose Death Penalty
The church's catechism now calls capital punishment "inadmissible" and says it's "an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person."
Louisiana Attorney General Wants State to Hurry Up on Executions—Even If That Means Using 'Hanging, Firing Squad, or Electrocution'
The death penalty may surface as a key issue in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Louisiana.
A Texas Man Is Executed Even After His Victim's Family Pleads for His Life
"His execution doesn't change what he did 14 years ago. It doesn't bring my dad back."
In Oklahoma, Inmates Could Be Gassed to Death by a Substance Unfit to Kill Pets
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that nitrogen may be "distressing" for any animal other than birds.
ACLU Says Nebraska May Have Illegally Imported Execution Drugs
The ACLU asks the DEA to investigate whether the state lied on its applications to get fentanyl for upcoming executions.
Sonia Sotomayor Faults SCOTUS for Failing to Protect Right to Effective Counsel in Death Row Case
Justice Sotomayor dissents from the denial of certiorari in Wessinger v. Vannoy.
America's Secret Death Penalty Drugs
Governments have gone to great effort to keep the sources and methods of their death penalty regimes secret.
What's More Sinister than Russian Election Hackers? [Podcast]
This week's show covers Venezuela, the New York City terrorist attack, Russian hackers, the Republican tax agenda, and a preview of a debate on Capitalism.
No, the U.S. Didn't Just Take a Stand for Executing Gay People
Don't believe the hype about the U.N.'s resolution on the death penalty.
'Thin Blue Line' Bill to Expand Federal Death Penalty Advances in Congress
Just what we need: some more overlapping federal and state laws.
Oklahoma Death Penalty Commission Recommends Extending Moratorium
300-page report identifies variety of problems with current application of the death penalty and makes dozens of recommendations.
In a Rush to Use Expiring Drugs, Arkansas Executed Two Men on Monday
These were executions of convenience.
Taxes, Testosterone, and the Virtues of Overbooking [Reason Podcast]
Reason editors Brian Doherty, Nick Gillespie, and Katherine Mangu-Ward discuss the week's news.
Arkansas Supreme Court Stays Tonight's Executions in Deference to U.S. Supreme Court
Other challenges also delaying state's attempt at an April death penalty spree.
Elected Florida Prosecutor Tries to Stop Using the Death Penalty, but Governor Won't Have It
A cop was killed, so there will be no debate about morality of the system.
Arkansas Set to Execute Eight Inmates in 10 Days
The state's supply of one of the needed drugs is about to expire.
Here's That Time Jeff Sessions Wanted to Execute Drug Dealers
"I don't think that sounds like something I would normally say," says the guy who definitely said that.
Texas Sought Banned Death Penalty Drugs From Overseas Party Dealers
In the future, President Trump's lifelong fanaticism for capital punishment could make such shady deals unnecessary.
Death Penalty Sentences in America Continue Decline
Only 20 were executed in 2016, the fewest since 1991.
Pot, Death, and Minimum Wage: 6 Things to Pay Attention to This Election
There's more to this election than Trump and Clinton.
Florida Supreme Court Rules State Death Penalty Law is Unconstitutional
Florida was one of two states that allowed non-unanimous juries to recommend the death penalty. The state supreme court ruled that's unconstitutional.
The Handful of Counties Still Imposing the Death Penalty Are a Constitutional Mess
The death penalty is disappearing, but where it still exists, it's plagued by constitutional problems, a new report finds.
Death Penalty Support Drops Below 50 Percent For First Time Since 1971
But capital punishment may be making a comeback in a number of states.
Texas Court Halts Execution of Man Who Did Not Kill Anyone
Jeff Wood was scheduled to be executed Wednesday.
A Single Police Officer's Killing Is a Terrible Reason to Bring Back the Death Penalty
The governor of New Mexico uses emotional response to call for new executions.
Delaware Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Unconstitutional
Judges say death penalty violates 6th Amendment right to a jury
