Comments on: Retarded Convict Not Retarded

By: Anderson

Anderson — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 22:52:14 +0000

Well, hey, the guy may not *be* retarded; that's fine. But down here in Mississippi, we aren't naive enough to believe that race is irrelevant in capital trials. Sorry the rest of you haven't caught up yet---best wishes!

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 13:28:06 +0000

Atkins v. Virginia sent the case back to the lower level court to determine, via due legal process, whether or not Atkins was, in fact, retarded. The Supreme Courts did not decide that as a matter of fact and law, Atkins was retarded.

The jury, following the USSC's order, reconsidered the case and found him to be not retarded. The process worked exactly as it was supposed to work. The results, however, disappointed some.

By: The Florida Masochist

The Florida Masochist — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 12:39:45 +0000

Irony

I for one won't be shedding any tears over Mr. Atkins death. It is ironic he helped to create a landmark Supreme Court ruling but it won't apply to him. Good riddance.

By: Leopold Stotch

Leopold Stotch — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 01:51:52 +0000

Yup, and everyone knows that all white people are racists, driven only by their intense desire to lynch innocent black folk.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 01:33:16 +0000

Jurors in Virginia get to decide whether a murderer is retarded? What a, um, retarded system.

Surprisingly, the all-white jury decided the guy was bright enough to execute. Who would've thought?

By the time it's appealed up again, Atkins will have been reversed.