The U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision last week barring death sentences for child rapists under Louisiana’s version of Jessica’s Law has been greeted by many, including victims rights groups like Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, as a victory for common sense that may improve conviction rates. But that doesn’t mean there’s not some political hay to be made from bemoaning the ruling.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal called the court “dead wrong” on the matter, and went on later that day to sign that state’s Sex Offender Chemical Castration Bill (which no one would ever dare suggest was grandstanding to distract from the recall petition brewing against him).
But what of Texas, which passed its own version of Jessica’s Law last legislative session? Gov. Rick Perry seemed to be accepting the inevitable, stating that Texas must “recognize that our state is guided by the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.” Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst didn’t try to claim he would attack the decision, but said he was glad that prosecutors could still go for life without parole. Meanwhile, Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, who wrote the Texas law, blamed those pesky activist judges and a “court that continues to show signs of sliding towards the left.”
This article appears in June 27 • 2008.
