Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) weighs in on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed on child rapists. In a statement, Blunt says he is, "Extremely disappointed in the Court’s decision."
Blunt was a strong supporter of an effort during the recently-concluded legislative session to allow any Missouri prosecutor to seek the death penalty in any case of forcible rape and forcible sodomy in which the victim is under the age of 12.
The Governor and 28 members of the General Assembly had filed an amicus brief, in March, asking the High Court to clarify previous rulings that the Eighth Amendment does not prohibit the death penalty for child rapists.
In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court ruled the Louisiana law violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.