The death penalty has been a controversial
subject in Central Texas for years. Now a
Supreme Court decision could end the death
penalty for minors who commit murder.
"I work with a lot of victims families who
initially did say 'I want this person killed,'"
Abe Benowitz who opposes death penalty said.
But soon, many victim's families may not be
able to get that satisfaction because of the
offenders age.
Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court said it will
consider ending the executions of people who
commit murders while under the age of 18.
"I think it's an unusual circumstance because
this is one of the rare times that the U.S.
Supreme Court decided to reexamine a question
that it conclusively decided a relatively short
time ago," Adjunct UT Law Professor Rob Owen
said.
The re-examination springs from a Missouri
Supreme Courts decision that executing minors
could be unconstitutional because it violates
the cruel and unusual punishment clause.
"People that have not reached adulthood
physically and physiologically are not full
culpable for their acts. It doesn't mean they
shouldn't be held responsible," Benowitz
said.
Juan Melendez is a former death row inmate
who was exhonerated in 2003. He also feels it's
not right for minors to be executed.
"Everybody deserves a second chance and who
better than a minor," Melendez said.
This decision could mean a lot for Texas
inmates -- out of a total of 75 minors
nationwide on death row.
"Texas' number represents a very large
portion of the juveniles on death row -- more
than a third," Owen said.
Twenty-six Texas inmates currently on death
row were 17 at the time of their
offense.
