Systemic Inequities in Death Penalty and As-Applied Constitutional Challenges

[摘要] death penaltycapital punishmentracial inequitiesas-applied challengesaggravating circumstancesSystemic Inequities Are Inadequate As-Applied Challenges in Death Penalty Cases Unless Directly Applicable to the DefendantIn Commonwealth v. Hairston, 249 A.3d 1046 (Pa. 2021), the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a trial court’s denial of postconviction relief. In a challenge to the constitutionality of the state’s death penalty, the court ruled that an “as-applied” challenge requires the defendant to assert personal impact from the state’s capital punishment system.

[学科分类] 儿科学

[关键词] death penalty;capital punishment;racial inequities;as-applied challenges;aggravating circumstances