Comments on: Colorado Court Bars Execution Because Jurors Consulted Bible

By: Jack Tanner

Jack Tanner — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 14:23:27 +0000

'I wouldnt pick a potential juror who told me hed memorized word for word most of the Christian bible'

Why...other than being an anti-religious bigot?

By: Richard Ames

Richard Ames — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 00:30:35 +0000

I wouldnât pick a potential juror who told me heâd memorized word for word most of the Christian bible, so why should I be okay with a juror who asks for a bible in the deliberation room?

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 00:11:42 +0000

Anderson: The problem with that is that, if they're religious nuts, then that's going to factor into their sentencing ANYWAY. I'm not sure why looking something up vice relying on recall matters.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 00:02:42 +0000

Denise is right, folks. How many of you want to be waiting for the jury to come back with your sentence & then find they've sent out for a Qur'an, or the Law of Manu? Doesn't matter if it's the Bible or "The DaVinci Code"--if it's not in the record, the jury doesn't need to be looking at it.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 21:08:25 +0000

"What I donât understand is why the CO Supreme Court imposed a life sentence rather than sending the issue back for hearing by a new jury."

I was wondering this too.

Also, I have issues with this, since the death penalty is based to some degree in moral outlook, and most people with religious faith will base their moral outlook on that faith.

If they were deciding guilt or innocence I could see the argument, since the Bible isn't exactly evidence, but I think anyone who is trying to make a decision as important as the removal of somebody's life, they should be consulting to some degree what their moral beliefs are based on.

Or does this decision now mean that anyone who is religious need not apply for jury duty? I am sorry, but Christians or other religious people should not be required to shed their moral foundations to decide a case.

By: B. Minich, PI

B. Minich, PI — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:25:05 +0000

Old Testament = findable sanctions for Death Penalty, as practiced in Israli law at the time.

Says nothing about how US government should approach the subject. However, you could take some of the verses in the Bible to suggest not giving the death penalty (and some do). Disqualifying a jury just because they used the Bible seems like a bad idea to me.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 18:43:08 +0000

James: Not so fast: Most protestant PEOPLE are pro-Death Penalty. That doesn't necessarily mean the faiths condone it. Just like the Pope being against birth control doesn't mean Catholics themselves are against it.

By: denise

denise — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:51:14 +0000

What I don't understand is why the CO Supreme Court imposed a life sentence rather than sending the issue back for hearing by a new jury.

Kappiy (inadvertently I think) raises a good point. A lot of texts could inform a person's moral outlook. Maybe we are comfortable where it's the Bible. Would it be okay if it were the Koran, or a text on satanism or astrology or whatever.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:38:54 +0000

Kappiy: Most Protestant faiths are very pro death penalty.

By: Kappiy

Kappiy — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:26:39 +0000

One has to wonder what Bible these folks were reading! According to the Pope, the Executive COuncil of the US Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and countless other religious groups, at least, condoning the death penalty isn't very christan.

Maybe they were reading the Qu'uran?

By: Director Mitch

Director Mitch — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:18:25 +0000

I suppose if they had consulted a Bible and decided on a life sentence then that decision would also be overturned?

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:58:43 +0000

Damn Zealots!

By: DaveD

DaveD — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:52:21 +0000

On the other hand U.S. judges seem to have no problem basing their decisions on judicial rulings or public sentiment in Europe. People do not seem to realize that the government belongs to them, not the judiciary.