Religious Liberty and the Death Penalty

Rebecca, Monica, Alison, and Liz discuss the religious liberty issues arising in death penalty cases. Since 2019, questions about what religious liberty rights are afforded to those sentenced to death at the moment of their execution have been featured at the high court. Rebecca walks us through four notable cases on this issue and the hosts discuss what it means for religious liberty cases overall.

Background

• “Court blocks execution, will weigh in on inmate’s religious-liberty claims”
• Death Penalty Information Center poll

Relevant Cases

• Furman v. Georgia
• Dunn v. Ray
• ”Divided court allows Alabama execution to go forward”
• Murphy v. Collier
• “Supreme Court intervenes in execution of Buddhist prisoner”
• Gutierrez v. Collier
• “Justices block Texas execution”
• Dunn v. Smith
• “Court won’t allow Alabama execution without a pastor”
• Ramirez v. Collier
• Coalition amicus brief