SCOTUS clears way for Tues. execution

Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009 12:44 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Courts, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams
The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down an emergency application from lawyers for John Allen Muhammad, the DC-area sniper, clearing the way for his scheduled execution Tuesday.

*** UPDATE *** Justices John Paul Stevens and Sonia Sotomayor say states like Virginia should not be allow to rush the Supreme Court into deciding death penalty cases hours or days before scheduled executions.

Muhammad's lawyers asked the court to put his execution on hold so that it could consider his challenge to the death sentence. They claim Muhammad was mentally ill.

"This case highlights once again the perversity of executing inmates before their appeals process has been fully concluded," Stevens wrote today, with Sotomayor agreeing.

"By denying Muhammad's stay application, we have allowed Virginia to truncate our deliberative process on a matter -- involving a death row inmate -- that demands the most careful attention. This result is particularly unfortunate in light of the limited time Muhammad was given to make his case in the District Court."

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Comments

Mr. Muhammad gets the vaccination of justice tomorrow night.

Lynn T., Californa (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 12:58 PM)

See ya, Johnny Muhammad.

This should have happened quite awhile ago.

Pablo Peso (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 12:58 PM)

Muhammad will be told the same thing that Obama and Pelsoi are telling the American taxpayers: "Lay back. Relax. This won't hurt a bit."

Tiger Team (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 12:59 PM)

Well, thanks to the Democrats, unemployment is now at a 26 year high. Good thing the country needs ditch-diggers too. What? It doesn't?
Olsen, Concord MA (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 9:29 AM)

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Two Years into Reagan's first term, Unemployment was at an all time high, gas prices at record levels, defecit spending exploded, he allowed all those poor marines to be blown up in Beruit...guess that makes Reagan Worst President Ever!!!
Pat Huntington NY...Reagan...worst president ever

There is a difference. Reagan fought FOR Americans. Obama is fighting AGAINST Americans.

Clear now?
Stacey K, Indiana (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 9:52 AM)
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Stacey/Olsen - is fighting FOR America include selling weapons to Iran?
Does it include funding Osama Bin Laden - if so, you are right - it was FOR America - uneducated buffoon

Need to see a picture of Rummy hugging Saddam? Need to watch the movie Joe Wilson's War? Need to read a book?

Saint Dick, Dallas, TX (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:01 PM)

This is certainly bad news. What czar is Muhammad in Obama's administration? Who do you think will replace him?

GTO - GA (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:02 PM)

Can they execute the Fort Hood terrorist while they're at it?

PC is Thought Control (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:03 PM)

I have no objection to the death penalty as long as there is little chance that there is someone else. It is something that can't be undone.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:03 PM)

Finally....the Supreme Court got one right!!!!

Ira from Freehold (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:04 PM)

Well, liberal MoveOn has announced it will launch a $500,000 ad blitz, which will start in the middle of the week, targeting Dems who voted against it,
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Most posting here think MoveOn's action is just fine. Yet, you had denigrated and criticized individual citizens for expressing their concerns at the Tea Parties. They don't $500,000 to do that; they just have a will and a pride in our country.
Tea anybody/ (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 9:40 AM)

And a Bus Ticket paid for by Freedom Works !

Touche, jackA$$ !

Rick,Ky (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:06 PM)

The death penalty, something I have mixed thoughts about and trouble supporting most of the time. I remember writing a paper in 6th grade opposing the death penalty based on the premise that innocent people are sometimes found guilty--that late 50's thought has proven true way too often with DNA analysis. The death penalty is not a deterent to murder; mentally disturbed people have no grasp of reality with or without the death penalty. Some crimes are horrific and putting the person to death seems logical but somehow it goes against the values we as a Nation hold. We critize other countries for their brutality yet we do the same but claim our methods are humane.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:16 PM)

Burn in hell Muhammad!

The Truth (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:17 PM)

Good! That happened seven years ago and he's just now going to be executed. He got seven more years of life (even if it was in prison) than his victims did.

Linda, Allen, TX (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:23 PM)

Murder by the state. Do as I say not as I do.

Pro life all the way (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:27 PM)

What does this have to do with Obama? You people are so very ignorant! Get a life! You can't hate someone that much!

Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 1:55 PM)

6 of 9 SCOTUSians are Catholic. We need to replace the outdated conservatives with modern progressives, so we can join the real world again. FDR, JFK and WJC were leading us in the right direction -- but alas poor Yorick, Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II burned those bridges. Democrats at their worst, are far, far better than conservatives at their best. Amen !!

Tim O-Street, Columbia, SC (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 2:28 PM)

I lived in northern Virginia when this was happening -traveled to work every day wondering if his next bullet would strike me, as 4 victims were only minutes away from my work place.

A terrible time - I don't do well with death penalties - but this would be my exception.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 2:34 PM)

I'm all for the death penalty, I'm also all for us getting all of our troops back home from overseas and letting each one of the countries take care of business themselves. Eventually if the public doesn't like something it will rise up and conquer against whatever it is, it may take some time or a long period of time but so be it.

J C Texas (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 2:35 PM)

Not to say you should feel sorry for this guy, but how exactly is it Christian to execute him? Judge not lest ye be judged ... If you're rooting for it, doesn't that put you in the eternal hot seat?

Which is it? (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 2:59 PM)

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