This briefing addressed Panetti v. Quarterman, a death penalty case challenging when a mentally ill person may be executed. Panetti, scheduled for oral arguments on April 18, is the fourth Texas case of the five death penalty challenges the Supreme Court has agreed to hear this term. In this case, Scott Panetti, a mentally ill inmate convicted of capital murder, believes he is being executed for “preaching the gospel” and because “forces of evil” are set against him. Does the Eighth Amendment permit execution in these circumstances? The panelists will also put the case in the broader context of the future of the American death penalty. Is there a growing movement to limit, or perhaps even abolish, the death penalty? What role may the Court play?

Panel was held at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
13th Floor, The National Press Club
529 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20045



ACS has created a resources page on several Supreme Court cases for the 2006-2007 October term. The resources page contains ACSBlog previews of the cases, streaming video of pre-argument panel discussions by experts, and links to the Court's opinions.