>>>The odds of randomly getting 12 random people to ALL impose the death sentence is extremely low.
>>>
>>>Yet, we just let the judiciary hand-pick jurors that are "death qualified."
>>
>>This is a big issue to me. Anyone who opposes the death penalty is automatically disqualified from serving on a death penalty case. That means that the jury is automatically more willing to give death than the public at large. I figure, sooner or later, someone will challenge this one on appeal.
>>
>>Tamar
>
>Has it changed since 2007 when the Supreme ruled against that practice?
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/washington/04cnd-scotus.html
>
>Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion acknowledged that history. “Capital defendants have the right to be sentenced by an impartial jury,” he said, adding that “the state may not infringe this right” by eliminating “those whose scruples against the death penalty would not substantially impair the performance of their duties"

Oh, I missed that decision. Glad to hear it. I've always assumed I'd automatically be eliminated from such a jury since my policy is that I wouldn't vote for the death penalty under any circumstances.

I'll have to dig on more on that case.

Tamar