https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/06/25/the-death-of-penalties/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:29:34 -0400<![CDATA[The Scotus Blog covers the Supreme Court&#8217;s decision that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty for the crime of raping a child. &#8220;The broad declaration that death sentences should be reserved “for crimes that take the life of the victim” will apply, the Court said, to crimes against individuals — thus leaving intact, for example, a possible death sentence for treason.&#8221; Justice Kennedy argued that one reason &#8220;for nullifying a death sentence for raping a child was that the child victim gets enlisted, perhaps repeatedly, to recount the crime, forcing on the child &#8216;a moral choice&#8217; that the youngster is not mature enough to make.&#8221; But Orin Kerr at the Volokh Conspiracy cites Justice Alito&#8217;s dissent on this very point.]]>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:21:44 -0400<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2008/06/25/the-death-of-penalties-n185643