Juvenile Death Penalty – Who decides? (October 14, 2004)
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial Board got it wrong when they opined “Court should bar juvenile executions” (October 14, 2004).
Their arguments were based on world opinion and past decisions from our activist Supreme Court. Furthermore, it is wrong to say that juveniles are being executed. It is true that juveniles sometimes get sentenced to death. But unfortunately, they are more likely to die of old age than lethal injection.
Frankly, I don’t know if it is a good idea for juveniles to be sentenced to death. But I do know that it is up to the people to decide the question through the legislative process; not via judicial fiat.
John E. Becker