Two quick thoughts:
1) I keep hearing the news coverage refer to this situation as “the Supreme Court today banned the execution of juveniles today” which makes it sounds as if we are literally talking about states killing lethal injections to kids. Perhaps it is more cumbersome, but it strikes me that the reportage should be more accurate and note that the basic issue is whether 16 and 17 year-olds who commit especially heinous crimes might, as a result, face the death penalty and that said executions would not take place when they are still teenagers. It may be a hair-splitting issue, but clarity of language is important.
2) Understand that I am not, per se, arguing that executing offenders who committed their crimes while they were will underage is a good thing, per se, just that the decision making process for such a cut-off ought to belong to the state legislatures. That is where policy is made: in legislative bodies. I was continually struck, listening to the news, as to the degree to which this really isn’t understood by people who ought to know better.
