Texas has executed four men in 2004 (Ynobe Matthews, Kenneth Bruce, Kevin Zimmerman, and Billy Vickers). At press time, Scott Panetti was scheduled for execution on Feb. 5. Four executions are scheduled in February, and seven more are scheduled before the end of June, including three inmates who were juveniles at the time of their crimes. The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to consider the issue of whether it is constitutional to execute those who were under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes. The TDCJ maintains a list of scheduled executions and related info at www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/deathrow.htm. For more on death penalty matters nationwide, see the Death Penalty Information Center at www.deathpenaltyinfo.org.

This article appears in February 6 • 2004.

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