Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Kennedy v. Louisiana" in English language version.
He had been offered life in prison if he pleaded guilty. He refused and was sentenced to death in 2003.
The Supreme Court said Friday [January 4, 2008] it would decide whether a convicted child rapist could be put to death...
The last execution for rape was in 1964, in Missouri.
Statement of JUSTICE KENNEDY, with whom JUSTICE STEVENS, JUSTICE SOUTER, JUSTICE GINSBURG, and JUSTICE BREYER join, respecting the denial of rehearing.
If the court had 'said we want to constrain the abilities of states to do this to make sure that it's done in a careful and appropriate way, that would have been one thing. But it basically had a blanket prohibition and I disagree with that decision.'