#justia

17 MAY 2024 | AUSTIN SARAT

On May 13, the New York Times published a story about discrimination in jury selection in death cases that was shocking, but not surprising. The story recounted longstanding efforts by prosecutors in Alameda County, California, to prevent people from serving as jurors in death penalty cases based on their race, gender, and religion.

Last month, a federal judge ordered an inquiry into those allegations. As the Times explains, “The inquiry, which may involve as many as 35 cases from as far back as 1977, is just getting underway. But the district attorney’s office says it has already found evidence that the discriminatory practice was widespread for decades and involved numerous prosecutors.”

The Times article highlighted and paid particular attention to the systematic exclusion of Jewish people from death penalty juries.

10 MAY 2024 | AUSTIN SARAT

On May 8, Alabama’s Republican Governor Kay Ivey set a date for the state’s second execution by nitrogen hypoxia. Her office announced that Alan Eugene Miller would be put to death sometime within thirty hours after 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

The governor’s action followed a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court granting the state attorney general’s request for permission to set Miller’s execution date. Miller was convicted and sentenced to death in July 2000 for killing three men in a workplace shooting.

If Alabama goes forward with its plan, it will be Miller’s second trip to the execution chamber. His first trip, in September 2022, produced a gruesome spectacle.

Homestuck S/I’s: Justia Creden! And her Dancestor, Junoss Creden! These Garnet-blooded trolls may be rather different in attitude, but they both can agree on one thing. Metal is indeed the best genre of music.