Cruel and Unusual

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

"...great leap for humankind. The majority considered the "evolving standards of decency" which define what sort of punishment is..."

June 28, 2002 News Column by Michael King

Death Watch: Cruel & Unusual Confinement

Convicted hit man faces third date with death

"...Rolando Ruiz has spent the last 22 years on death..."

March 3, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Supremes Examine Capital Punishment, Mental Illness

How mentally ill does a prisoner have to be in order to deem execution cruel and unusual punishment?

"...in order to invalidate execution on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment...."

May 4, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Mental Illness and Execution: Supremes to weigh in

Supreme Court will hear appeal of Texas death row inmate Scott Panetti, to address question of how mentally ill a person has to be for an execution to be considered cruel and unusual punishment

"...has to be for an execution to be considered cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment...."

Jan. 12, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Child Sexual Assault and the Death Penalty

Supremes to hear appeal of Louisiana man condemned to die for rape of stepdaughter

"...asked to decide whether the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment allows for the imposition of the..."

Jan. 11, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Row Inmates Say Expired Drug Makes Execution Painful, Cruel

Robert Fratta set to die Tuesday night

"...– Robert Fratta (tomorrow night, Jan. 10), Wesley Ruiz, and John Balentine – are asking that the state investigate..."

Jan. 9, 2023 News Post by Brant Bingamon

Supremes Rule on Lawyers, Sex, and Guns

Court's rulings hit home

"...for the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and as is often the case, many of the most..."

July 4, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Rehabilitation or Torture?

Texas prison inmates say their 'therapy' has taken a dark turn

"...According to some former and current inmates, the state's Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities...."

May 23, 2008 News Feature by Patricia J. Ruland

UPDATED: Death Watch: Most Notorious

Serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells scheduled for execution

"...stayed the execution of serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells and that of another condemned inmate, until the Texas Department..."

April 2, 2014 News Post by Jordan Smith

Lawless Disorder

Top 10 crime and justice stories

"...1) Burn Baby, Burn: Six Austin police officers and four dispatchers were punished for a stream of inappropriate,..."

Jan. 6, 2006 News Feature

Justice or Vengeance?

A tale of tragedy and punishment in Williamson County

"...Four seconds. A flash. A moment here and gone. In four seconds, lives can change forever. One..."

Nov. 4, 2005 News Feature by Kevin Brass

In Our Names

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

"...for an "axis of evil": the United States, Iran, and the Congo...."

May 31, 2002 News Column by Michael King

Illinois Kills Death Penalty

Becomes 16th state to abolish the ultimate penalty

"...it with life-without-parole as the ultimate criminal sanction – and requires the transfer of state funds used for prosecuting..."

March 9, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Beaten by Wackenhut

A former Travis County inmate alleges that Wackenhut Corporation bears responsibility for his prison beating.

"...is a state jail, then administered by Travis County, and under a subcontract from the county it was being..."

July 5, 2002 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Supports States' Rights

"...evolving because we are putting a moratorium on potentially "cruel and unusual" punishment, or are we simply catching up..."

Oct. 8, 2007 Postmarks

Point Austin: The Machinery of Death

Supreme Court quibbles about drugs and avoids the larger ethical issue

"...Alito has no similar scruples, and goes on at length in defending midazolam as a..."

July 10, 2015 News Column by Michael King

A Young Man on Death Row

Juvenile offender Randy Arroyo's case puts Texas's execution factory on trial.

"...stabbed someone wind up on death row? Speaking quickly and precisely, Randy Arroyo explains the legal concept known as..."

Jan. 10, 2003 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Weed Watch

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

"...Angelos, founder of Extravagant Records, had no criminal record, and was convicted of selling a total of just 24..."

Jan. 20, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Alito Busts a Moderate Move

In his first decision as the Supreme Court's newest associate justice, Samuel Alito split with the court's most conservative members, voting to uphold a stay of execution for a condemned Missouri inmate

"...was confirmed by the Senate (in a 58-42 vote) and sworn in the day before, sided with five of..."

Feb. 10, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

The Texas death train rolls again, using chemicals deemed too cruel for dogs

"...the inmate experiences a humane death, making their use cruel and unusual punishment – still has not been ruled..."

Jan. 30, 2004 News Feature by Rita Radostitz

Challenging Lethal Injection

Supreme Court rules death row inmates with no more criminal appeals left may challenge constitutionality of lethal injection method of execution under federal civil rights statutes

"...challenged the execution method as a banned form of cruel and unusual punishment, but did not contest his 1983..."

June 23, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Deprived of the Joy of Watching Him Grow

"...Dear Editor, In "Justice or Vengeance?" [News, Nov. 4], Brandon Threet's family said, "We promised him we would fight..."

Nov. 15, 2005 Postmarks

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

"...bank robbery. Hill had exhausted his federal criminal appeals and was four days away from execution when he appealed..."

May 5, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...Eastside Moratorium," News, Nov. 4]. We will be living and working next to what is built. We worked through..."

Nov. 18, 2005 Column

Ignore the Flaws – the Death Penalty Must Continue On

Despite possible errors here and elsewhere, Perry stands firm on capital punishment

"...voted overwhelmingly in favor of suspending the state's capital punishment system for 18 months and to create a commission..."

Dec. 23, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Sentence Overturned

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals narrowly sides with argument that killer is mentally retarded

"...in Livingston in 1979. Penry's case has bounced back and forth between state and federal courts for nearly 25..."

Oct. 14, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Supremes to Weigh In on Lethal Injection

Does current lethal injection method of 37 states subject prisoners to cruel and unusual punishment?

"...fall term that challenges lethal injection as an unconstitutionally cruel form of punishment. Turner, sentenced to die for the..."

Oct. 5, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: A Dying Breed

Can Texas even carry out an execution anymore?

"...Officials down at Texas' once-proud and prolific death chamber must be beginning to wonder if..."

Sept. 9, 2016 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Naked City

News briefs from Austin, the region, and beyond

"...significantly increase their recycling of electronic waste in 2009, and among states with similar programs, Texas ranked last in..."

May 21, 2010 News Feature

Roberson Execution Stayed

Court of Criminal Appeals sends case back to Anderson County

"...Robert Roberson Thursday, sending the case back to the Anderson County court where Roberson was initially tried. The 49-year-old..."

June 17, 2016 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

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