States may not execute prisoners who cannot rationally understand the reasons fo...
WASHINGTON - States may not execute prisoners who cannot rationally understand the reasons for their punishment, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, siding with an Alabama man who in recent years has suffered strokes and dementia that wiped out his memory of murdering a police officer in 1985.
The U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment, prohibits capital punishment for those who cannot understand why they will be put to death, the justices ruled. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s four liberals in siding with Madison in the ruling written by liberal Justice Elena Kagan.
“If Alabama is to execute Madison,” Kagan said from the bench, “the Eighth Amendment requires, and the state must find, that he’ll understand why.” Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee of President Donald Trump, had not yet joined the court when the case was argued last October, and did not participate in the decision.Madison, who is black, was sentenced to death in his third trial. His first two convictions were thrown out on appeal for racial discrimination in jury selection and other prosecutorial misconduct.
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