Death Penalty Cases
Today a firing squad ended Ronnie Lee Gardner's life. In Utah, the death penalty is still legal, though groups have actively opposed this type of punishment. Some speculate that this could be the last time a firing squad will ever be used in an capital punishment execution. Lethal injection has become the preferred method for the ultimate punishment. The incredible element to this case is that it took 25 years between the time the punishment of death was ordered, and the actual execution.
Whether the government should be allowed to put a person to death for committing a crime is a hotly debated topic. Individuals from around the country, including scholars and judges, are divided in their opinions regarding this topic. Attorney J. Edward Jones is one of the few attorneys in the State of Utah that has been qualified to be appointed to represent individuals charged with crimes where the death penalty is the requested punishment. Mr. Jones has also been successful in obtaining a not guilty verdict for murder charges at trial.
www.edjoneslaw.com
(435) 654-9529
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Juveniles sentenced to life without parole
Juveniles sentenced to life without parole
On May 17, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile offender, who has not committed a homicide, violates the Eight Amendments Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause. This is a big change for individuals under 18 who currently have been locked up for life. The case before the Supreme Court involved a young man who committed an armed burglary and attempted armed robbery shortly before his 18th birthday. The trial court noted he had received probation for an earlier armed burglary, and violated his probation by committing the current crimes. The court sentenced the young man, who was now 19 years old, to life for the armed burglary, and 15 years for the attempted armed robbery. The State of Florida, however, where he had committed the crimes, had abolished its parole system, leaving him with a sentence of life without parole. Based on the fact of this case, and the court's ruling, anyone, even someone a day under 18, who commits a crime short of murder, can not be locked away for the rest of his life.
www.edjoneslaw.com
(435) 654-9529
On May 17, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile offender, who has not committed a homicide, violates the Eight Amendments Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause. This is a big change for individuals under 18 who currently have been locked up for life. The case before the Supreme Court involved a young man who committed an armed burglary and attempted armed robbery shortly before his 18th birthday. The trial court noted he had received probation for an earlier armed burglary, and violated his probation by committing the current crimes. The court sentenced the young man, who was now 19 years old, to life for the armed burglary, and 15 years for the attempted armed robbery. The State of Florida, however, where he had committed the crimes, had abolished its parole system, leaving him with a sentence of life without parole. Based on the fact of this case, and the court's ruling, anyone, even someone a day under 18, who commits a crime short of murder, can not be locked away for the rest of his life.
www.edjoneslaw.com
(435) 654-9529
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