Congressional Digest

Supreme Court Debates May 2002 No. 5 Vol. 5
Before the Court

Applying the Death Penalty

The Mentally Retarded and Diminished Culpability

Before the Court

The Justices Weigh in During Oral Arguments

At 11:27 a.m. on February 20, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for case number 00-8452, the consolidated case of Daryl Atkins v. Commonwealth of Virginia. At 11:28 p.m., arguments concluded and the case was submitted for judgment. Following are excerpts from the arguments of James W. Ellis, attorney for Daryl Renard Atkins, and Pamela A. Rumpz, Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Questions are presented from the nine Supreme Court justices. Argument on Behalf of Daryl Atkins QUESTION: Mr. Ellis, what is the real reason behind your position? What’s wrong with executing the mentally retarded?MR….

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