The Supreme Court today refused to accept a case that raised the issue of the constitutionality of juvenile offender executions. Last term some members of the Court indicated they wanted to revisit the issue of capital punishment for those who were 16 or 17 at the time of the crime. Today, in a 5 to 4 split, the Justices refused to do so.

"Four justices said the court should continue a reexamination of the death penalty begun in earnest last year. But the court passed up a chance to reopen the question of whether executing very young killers violates the Constitution's ban on "cruel and unusual punishment." Currently, states that allow the death penalty may impose it on killers who were 16 or 17 at the time of their crimes. The dissenting justices called it a "shameful practice."

The Court also turned down two police search cases "that posed an important question for drivers: can officers freely search your car without getting a warrant if you don't show them identification or registration papers?"

Howard Bashman has more over on How Appealing.