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Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has died. Justice Stevens began his time on the Court in support of capital punishment but became a death penalty opponent by the time of his retirement in 2010. Here are some of his memorable statements on the issue:
Justice Stevens voted with the majority in Gregg v. Georgia in 1976. This was the case that reinstated the death penalty nationwide after a four-year moratorium. After his retirement, Justice Stevens said this was the only vote he regretted in his 35 years on the Court.
In 2014, Justice Stevens wrote that he would like to add five words to the 8th Amendment in order to prohibit the death penalty: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments *such as the death penalty* inflicted."
In 2005, Justice Stevens criticized a rigid interpretation of the 8th Amendment: "If the meaning of that Amendment had been frozen when it was originally drafted, it would impose no impediment to the execution of 7-year-old children today."
In 2008, Justice Stevens wrote that he had "relied on [his] own experience in reaching the conclusion that the imposition of the death penalty represents the pointless and needless extinction of life" and that such a penalty amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
In a 2016 interview, Justice Stevens called the death penalty a "wasteful enterprise" and said that "taxpayers should terminate this waste as expeditiously as possible." He urged voters, legislators, and the courts to address the issue quickly.
Justice Stevens was aware that innocent people are sent to death row and even executed. In a 2016 interview, Justice Stevens cited the wrongful Texas execution of Carlos DeLuna, describing him as "a man who was unquestionably innocent of murder."
In 2010, Justice Stevens was asked if the U.S. should do away with the death penalty under all circumstances. He responded: "Yes. That would be the best rule to follow because that's basically the rule that's followed in most civilized countries."
In 2014, Justice Stevens said that he thought the Court had made a grave mistake in formulating rules that "slant the opportunity for justice in favor of the prosecutor" in death penalty cases, especially when "the cost is so high if you make a mistake."
Justice Stevens in 2014: "If you make a mistake in a capital case, there's no way to take care of it later on. The risk of an incorrect execution in any case, to me, is really intolerable. The system should not permit that possibility to exist."
Justice Stevens addressing the death penalty in a 2010 @60Minutes interview: . And in a 2014 @NewsHour interview: .
Rest in Peace, Justice Stevens. americanbar.org/groups/crsj/pu…
