>>South Carolina - Murder with 1 of 12 aggravating circumstances (§ 16-3-20(C)(a))
>>
>
>My next question - when was the last time any state in the U.S. used capital punishment for something less than first degree murder.
>
>I'd be really curious to see that one. (If it's happened, I disagree with using it for anything less than first degree pre-meditated murder).

Here's the most egregious example that comes to mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_and_Ethel_Rosenberg

It was at the height (or depth) of the McCarthy era and the Red Scare.
Absolutely no one died as a result of what they allegedly did.
Period.
They should have been put in jail for a long, long time.
One of the key witnesses later exonerated one of them.
Here's an excellent book on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Implosion-Conspiracy-Louis-Nizer/dp/B000UDZ5UC