Death in the Federal Courts: Expectations and Realities of the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994

Thou shalt not kill. These four words have echoed throughout the churches, judicial courts, and political meeting places of men and women for time immemorial. Along with their deep religious and political significance, they carry with them a haunting contrast to the current state of mankind: men and women can kill other men and women-legally. In the United States, this legal killing, commonly referred to as the death penalty, traditionally takes place within the confines of the individual state judicial systems, and generally involves the execution of felons tried and convicted of some form of intentional murder

Preface

The University of Richmond Law Review is extremely pleased to present this special issue dedicated to Professor Akhil Reed Amar\u27s The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction. The purpose of the issue is to celebrate the groundbreaking nature of Professor Amar\u27s contemporary text by providing a collection of eleven scholarly commentaries in which some of the finest constitutional jurists in the United States react to the book. The commentators each offer a unique perspective on the dynamic text, utilizing legal, judicial, historical, philosophical, and even esoteric influences to analyze its contents. In an eloquent response to his academic peers, Continuing the Conversation, Professor Amar graciously addresses the individual commentaries by examining both praise and criticism alike, as proffered by each of the authors. The result is quite inviting to the reader; and the issue\u27s appeal is enhanced by the fact that the Law Review Editorial Board went to great lengths to preserve the particular writing styles of the individual authors

Death in the Federal Courts: Expectations and Realities of the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994

Thou shalt not kill. These four words have echoed throughout the churches, judicial courts, and political meeting places of men and women for time immemorial. Along with their deep religious and political significance, they carry with them a haunting contrast to the current state of mankind: men and women can kill other men and women-legally. In the United States, this legal killing, commonly referred to as the death penalty, traditionally takes place within the confines of the individual state judicial systems, and generally involves the execution of felons tried and convicted of some form of intentional murder