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| Inmate removed from Ky. death row |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 12/09/2003 |
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A convicted murderer whose case determined that states could execute juveniles has been removed from Kentucky's death row. Outgoing Gov. Paul Patton commuted Kevin Stanford's death sentence to life in prison on Monday, ending a long-running dispute at the Supreme Court over his fate. In 1989, the court ruled 5-4 in Stanford's case that states are free to impose the death penalty for murderers who committed their crimes while age 16 and 17. Stanford was 17 when he sodomized and killed a gas station attendant in 1981. His case returned to the high court last year, and four justices delivered stinging criticism of what they called the "shameful practice" of executing juveniles, which is banned in most countries. "The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society," wrote Justice John Paul Stevens, joined by Justices David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. The four hinted that it would be up to state leaders to show that a consensus has developed that it's cruel to impose capital punishment on juveniles. Dennis Archer, president of the American Bar Association, said Monday that states don't allow minors to vote or buy cigarettes. "The time has come for all states to cease executing those who commit crimes as minors," he said in a statement. |
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