Kennedy v. Louisiana Oral Argument
Apr 16, 2008
Follow Similar ProgramsThe Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Kennedy v. Louisiana on the constitutionality of the death penalty for child rape.
This program contained the audio recording released by the .. Read More
This program contained the audio recording released by the .. Read More
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Kennedy v. Louisiana on the constitutionality of the death penalty for child rape.
This program contained the audio recording released by the court. Still images of participants were shown on the screen as they spoke. Justice Thomas did not speak.
The Supreme Court decided 5-4 that Louisiana’s law allowing the death penalty for child rape violated the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment. The Court overturned the law in Louisiana and five other states: Montana, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The two men sentenced to death for the crime of child rape, both in Louisiana, would receive new sentences of life without parole.
Justice Kennedy wrote the opinion for the Court. His opinion was joined by Justices Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer. Justice Alito wrote the dissenting opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the dissent, along with Justices Scalia and Thomas.
This program contained the audio recording released by the court. Still images of participants were shown on the screen as they spoke. Justice Thomas did not speak.
The Supreme Court decided 5-4 that Louisiana’s law allowing the death penalty for child rape violated the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment. The Court overturned the law in Louisiana and five other states: Montana, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The two men sentenced to death for the crime of child rape, both in Louisiana, would receive new sentences of life without parole.
Justice Kennedy wrote the opinion for the Court. His opinion was joined by Justices Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer. Justice Alito wrote the dissenting opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the dissent, along with Justices Scalia and Thomas.
