Supreme Court Decision Validates Local Strategies to Decriminalize Homelessness

SCOTUS passes on camping bans

"...such laws may be held in violation of the Eighth Amendment, which bans "excessive bail," "excessive fines," and cruel..."

Dec. 20, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Homelessness in Austin Becomes a Political Game

Abbott threatens Adler: “Clean up the streets,” or else

"...such as sleeping outside, was a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, if the..."

Oct. 4, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Paxton: Lethal Injection Forever

A.G. joins amicus brief in opposition to Missouri man's request for death by lethal gas

"...instead of pentobarbital – which he argues is his Eighth Amendment right. The 16-page brief argues that Bucklew's challenge..."

Aug. 31, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: No Recourse for Mental Illness

Texas about to execute another insane inmate

"...individuals with intellectual disabilities are in violation of the Eighth Amendment (barring cruel and unusual punishment), but a response..."

March 13, 2015 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Death Watch: “Texas Seven” Member Contests “Law of Parties”

A robbery ended in a police officer death while Patrick Murphy waited outside. Current Texas law holds him responsible.

"...his appeal proceedings. The second pleading addresses a First Amendment issue regarding Murphy’s request to the Texas Department of..."

March 22, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Those Who Are About to Die

Your Texas death machine gets rolling again

"...injection a "cruel and unusual punishment" that violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?..."

Aug. 1, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

"...at a "very slight" angle, breaking part of his eighth rib. The other bullet entered 3Ú4 of an inch..."

July 6, 2007 News Feature

The Supremes' Fall Season

Criminal justice, medical marijuana – and maybe redistricting? – on the high court's plate

"...the Supremes to reaffirm their 1989 decision that the Eighth Amendment prohibition of "cruel and unusual punishment" does not..."

Oct. 8, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Cruel and Unusual

The Supreme Court decides the death houses can do without a few more victims

"...sort of punishment is "cruel and unusual" under the Eighth Amendment (the only amendment which in its own terms..."

June 28, 2002 News Column by Michael King

UPDATED: Officer on Stand in Civil Rights Case

APD Officer Nathan Wagner testifies about police shooting

"...Officer Jeffrey Rodriguez sitting on the side of East EIghth Street she "just felt terrified," she testified Tuesday afternoon...."

June 4, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

The War on Women's Health

To attack Planned Parenthood, lawmakers undermine health care ... and promote more abortions

"...in the Texas House on a string of budget amendments seeking to reallocate funds designated to provide basic women's..."

April 22, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: Intellectually Disabled or Mentally Ill?

Three cases raise the question

"...intellectual disabilities qualifies as cruel punishment and violates the Eighth Amendment, but the CCA decision on Williams is the..."

June 15, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: Steven Long Spared Execution

SCOTUS’ ruling in Bobby James Moore case spares inmate’s life, for now

"...as cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.) Long's appeals have been denied at every turn,..."

Aug. 25, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: Too Mentally Ill to Die?

Should the bar on executing mentally retarded offenders be extended to the mentally ill?

"...court to consider whether killing Vasquez would violate the Eighth Amendment. Denied there, Keegan presented U.S. District Court Judge..."

April 1, 2016 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Is Druery Sane Enough to Die?

Brazos County judge apparently thinks so

"...understanding" of that fate in order to satisfy the Eighth Amendment ban. And that, Black and Wiercioch have argued,..."

July 24, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

CCA Jump-Starts the Death Machine

Executions resume after Court of Criminal Appeals rules against death row inmates' challenges

"...exhaust his state remedies on a claim of an Eighth Amendment violation," she wrote. "Our response is to close..."

June 20, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Supremes Rule on Lethal Injection

Three-drug cocktail is A-OK

"...in the Kentucky death chamber does not violate the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment, signaling that..."

April 25, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Scott Panetti: Sane Enough to Execute?

Supremes' June 28 ruling in case of Texas death row inmate Scott Panetti concludes that law requires condemned inmates have some 'rational understanding' of why they're being executed in order to satisfy Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment

"...why they're being executed in order to satisfy the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. The court..."

July 13, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Supremes Tackle Civility of Execution

Supreme Court takes up question of whether a death row inmate may use federal civil rights law to challenge a state's manner of execution

"...claim. Hill claims the method of execution violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. Lethal injection..."

May 5, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Weed Watch

Court rules 55 years for 24 ozs. of pot is not cruel or unusual

"...1983) vacated a sentence as a violation of the Eighth Amendment. So in Angelos' case, "we conclude that this..."

Jan. 20, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

Violates Eighth Amendment, Judge Says

"...U.S. Supreme Court] and, for that reason, cannot withstand Eighth Amendment scrutiny."..."

March 25, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

In Our Names

The case of Napoleon Beazley shines a spotlight on the Texas system of capital punishment.

"...does not forbid it to the states under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment)...."

May 31, 2002 News Column by Michael King

Letters at 3AM: An Arbitrary Nation, Part 5

Our Bill of Rights guarantees are breaking down in state justice systems across the country

"...justice, shunting aside international law, United States laws, the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual treatment," the Sixth..."

July 12, 2013 Column by Michael Ventura

Chronicle Endorsements for the May 1 City of Austin Special Election

Our picks for the eight propositions you'll see on your ballot

"...Seven of these (all but Prop B) are proposed amendments to the city charter, which can only be done..."

April 16, 2021 News Feature by The Chronicle Editorial Board

Weed Watch: Meddling Federal Lawmakers Share Blame in Senseless Medi-Pot Death

Barr and co. prevented D.C. voters from enacting law

"...care in violation of federal laws – including the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Still, medi-pot..."

Sept. 30, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

No More Juvie Executions

The Supreme Court's ban on executing kids has repercussions all the way back to Austin

"...juvenile offenders, opining that the practice violates the Constitution's Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment. "The differences..."

March 11, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Postmarks

"...from the end of Biblically approved slavery by the eighth amendment in 1865. Silly me! I thought it was..."

Oct. 2, 1998 Column

Postmarks

Turner Is Worthy

"...from the end of Biblically approved slavery by the eighth amendment in 1865. Silly me! I thought it was..."

Sept. 25, 1998 Column

Death Watch: Executing Texas' Law of Parties

Jeff Wood never killed anybody; Robert Pruett may not have either. Why does the state want to put them both to death?

"...competency, but also questions concerning the application of the Eighth Amendment and whether Wood's punishment fits his crime...."

Aug. 12, 2016 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Death Watch: A Reprieve From Death Row

Clinton Young's death sentence overturned over legal misconduct

"...after Nodolf's discovery became public, and invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid testifying at a subsequent hearing...."

Oct. 8, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

1   2   3   4     NEXT ›    4 »