Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy
To The U.S. Supreme Court's Decision
On The Execution Of Mentally Retarded Individuals
June 20, 2002

[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and is chief sponsor of the Innocence Protection Act (S.486), a bipartisan package of death penalty reforms. The bill includes a non-binding sense-of-Congress provision expressing opposition to the execution of mentally retarded individuals.]

"The majority's decision seems to be sound and justified.

"This is another sign of the fundamental re-examination that is underway at all levels of government about how the death penalty is being carried out today.

"I commend the court for its courage. I also commend President Bush for his earlier statement of his views on this topic, and I urge him to engage in the debate now underway in Congress on several key reforms needed to correct the many flaws in our death penalty system."

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