Biblical sentence tossed

[a fantoche de meia]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/05/23/bible.death.sentence.ap/index.html

Jurors apparently relied on passages from the Bible in assigning a death sentence to a convicted killer. A judge is tossing out the sentence.

[quote] "The death penalty, however, must be imposed in a constitutional manner ... Jury resort to biblical code has no place in a constitutional death penalty proceeding."

Defense attorneys had argued the use of religious works during jury deliberations is improper because the works are not Colorado law. Prosecutors said the use of biblical passages could not have influenced the verdict.

Vigil said the sequestered jury read and discussed biblical passages on punishment in the deliberation room "for the purpose of guiding and directing certain jurors to a particular verdict."
...
Vigil referred to juror Lana Eaton-Ochoa, who read and wrote down the citation to Romans 13:1, which says "let every soul be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God."
[quote]

There would seem to be a message here for those who claim U.S. law is based on Biblical law.

[Hand Bent Spoon]

I have long opposed the jury system that we have due to things such as 'jury nullification' and now this.

Imagine if juries started basing their conclusions on biblical code on a regular basis. If that ever happens, do not pick up sticks on Saturday! ;)

This is nothing short of frightening, but also encouraging in that it was detected and discarded by the system.

The only question left is: how can we ever be certain juries aren't basing their conclusions on the Bible?

[LCBOY]

I am curious to see what evidence the judge has that shows that the jurors:

1) Ignored the judge's instructions for deliberations on sentencing.

2) Ignored the the rules for juror conduct.

and

3) Explicit statements from the jurors themselves that they sentenced the defendant to death based on specific passages from the Bible and not constitional law.

The article barely quoted the jurors to get their side of the story. This is an interesting case...

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by a fantoche de meia


There would seem to be a message here for those who claim U.S. law is based on Biblical law.

all those people have to do is read the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli.

[mjv]

CNN.com references a previous case:

"Kennedy ordered a new sentencing phase in 2000 for a man convicted in the slaying of a Wichita couple after at least two Bibles were brought into the deliberation room. Some jurors told the judge they had referred to a passage reading, "If a person does not ask for mercy, they may not be granted mercy," suggesting that the suspect never asked for mercy because he didn't take the stand. "

I hope I never have to have my fate judged by a group of morons who read the bible, but apparently do not read the constitution.

Of course, that is probably why I am never picked for jury duty.

[evildave]

And you wonder why that guy who killed his pregnant wife for Christmas and dumped her body in the bay is claiming "Satanists did it!" Because it's these sort of fools who will buy it.

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by a fantoche de meia
Jurors apparently relied on passages from the Bible in assigning a death sentence to a convicted killer.
I guess the part I have a hard time putting together is why a jury would assign the death sentence based on Christian teachings. Must have been reading the Old Testament.

[thaiboxerken]

I guess some christians are just too stupid or lazy to use critical thinking skills in order to rationalize a criminal sentence. Bibles should not be allowed in a court room, period.

If the Qu'ran was brought into a jury deliberation, the christians would be outraged.

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by EdipisReks


all those people have to do is read the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli.

It would have to be the original treaty. The christians felt the need to edit out that famous line in article 11 at a later date.