« Speaking of Offending People | Main | Economic Perceptions »

February 1, 2006

Just When You Think You Know A Justice

Maybe it's not Scalito, but Soulito......

Alito Splits With Conservatives in Death Penalty Case

Alito, handling his first case, sided with inmate Michael Taylor, who had won a stay from an appeals court earlier in the evening. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas supported lifting the stay, but Alito joined the remaining five members in turning down Missouri's last-minute request to allow a midnight execution.

I just find this awfully ironic. I'm sure the base of the Republican Party is just going to go nuts tonight. Maybe he just doesn't want to make a split-second decision his first full day on the job.

Personally, though, not knowing any real facts about the Taylor case, I have a hard time being upset at a new Justice being a bit on the careful side when deciding an execution stay.

Posted by Nemo at February 1, 2006 10:21 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.caerdroia.org/MT/mt-tb.cgi/812

Comments

It looks like his appeal is on the grounds that lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. He will likely lose, in the end. But yes, I agree that it is good to see any judge anywhere carefully considering the rights or claimed rights of defendants.

Posted by: Jeff Medcalf [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 2, 2006 8:36 AM