| Posts |
|
Egypt court affirms death sentences in espionage case
The Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday upheld the death sentences of six defendants, including three journalists, charged with espionage for leaking state secrets to Qatar. While the defendants were originally sentenced to death in May , the Egyptian (More) |
|
India court sentences 11 to life for 2002 riots
A court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, sentenced 11 people to life in prison Friday for the murder of 69 Muslims during religious riots in 2002. Over the course of the riots, which lasted for days, nearly 1,000 people were killed. A total of 24 people were c (More) |
|
Michigan Senate passes bill compensating the exonerated for wrongful imprisonment
The Michigan Senate on Thursday passed a bill (SB 291) that would compensate people who were wrongfully convicted of crimes once they are exonerated . SB 291, also known as the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act, passed the Senate by a unanimou (More) |
|
Supreme Court rules Pennsylvania judge should have recused himself in death penalty case
The US Supreme Court ruled 5-3 Thursday in Williams v. Pennsylvania that Pennsylvania's Chief Justice should have recused himself from a death penalty case in which he formerly served as prosecutor. Terrance Williams was convicted of first degree (More) |
|
Supreme Court to rule in death penalty cases
The US Supreme Court granted certiorari Monday in two death penalty cases. In Moore v. Texas [docket; cert. petition, PDF] the court will decide (1) whether it violates the Eighth Amendment and the Supreme Court's decisions in Hall v. Florida and (More) |
|
Supreme Court declines to rule on constitutionality of death penalty
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday refused a request to decide on whether the death penalty is unconstitutional. Lamondre Tucker, who murdered his pregnant girlfriend in 2008 asked the court to grant certiorari in Tucker v. Louisiana to rule on the c (More) |
|
Connecticut Supreme Court upholds ruling abolishing death penalty
The Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 5-2 to uphold the state's ban on capital punishment. The decision, which rested upon the court's previous decision against capital punishment, stated once again that allowing the death penalty would (More) |
|
UN rights office concerned about imminent Gaza executions
A spokesperson for the UN human rights office urged Gaza authorities to end the use of the death penalty on Wednesday. Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the office is "deeply concerned about (More) |
|
Malaysia man executed in Singapore after appeals exhausted
Singapore police officials on Friday announced the hanging death of Jabing Kho, hours after the High Court of Singapore denied his final appeal for clemency. Jabing was sentenced to death in 2010 for his part in the murder of a construction worker (More) |
|
UN rights office condemns Iran sentencing of human rights activist
A spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Friday condemned Iranian authorities for the sentencing of Nargis Mohammadi, an anti-death penalty activist. Mohammadi is currently being held in Evin Prison, which is locat (More) |
Senate approves purchase of Alaska
On April 9, 1867, the U.S. Senate voted to ratify the Treaty with Russia for the Purchase of Alaska and thereby approve the purchase of the territory from Russia for $7.2 million. Initially, the purchase was made to keep Alaska away from the British. It was politically unpopular with many Americans who denounced it is "Seward's Folly", after U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, who had lobbied for the purchase. Seward was later vindicated by the discovery of gold and oil in Alaska.
Learn more about the Alaska Purchase from the U.S. State Department.
