Reuters: on Crime

John Paul Stevens: Favors defendants' rights

Rick Perry: Executes Mexican citizen despite plea from Pres. Fox

He was executed for shooting and killing undercover police officer Lawrence Cadena, 43, during a buy-and-bust drug sting. Mexico sought a stay from the Supreme Court on grounds that Suarez's rights were violated because he was not put in contact with the Mexican consulate in Dallas at the time of his arrest, as required under the Vienna Convention diplomatic treaty. The court rejected the appeal shortly before Suarez was put to death. Fox pleaded with his friend President Bush and with Perry to stop the execution. Perry denied Suarez's request for a one-time, 30-day stay of execution.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: States have broad powers to limit jury awards

Tim Kaine: Kaine's Project Exile disproportionately impacted blacks

Tim Kaine: Kaine's Project Exile disproportionately impacted blacks

The now-defunct Project Exile that Kaine backed was championed by Republicans and Democrats alike and by both gun lobby groups & gun-control advocates. But the program was also criticized at the time as a racially biased initiative that condemned young black men to lengthy prison terms. Officials during Kaine's mayoral tenure believe the community, ravaged by the crack-cocaine epidemic, had to take dramatic steps. As Richmond's first white mayor in more than a decade, Kaine was widely credited for helping to bridge racial divisions in the city, but Project Exile drew fire that the program unfairly targeted African-Americans.