- Social:
Stanford University
Professor of law at Stanford University and director of its Criminal Justice Center
PROFILE
Robert Weisberg
Guest
FROM Robert Weisberg
Which Way, L.A.?
Long Delays in Death Penalty Not Unconstitutional California's system of capital punishment is dysfunctional, but long delays do not constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment. That's the conclusion of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today, overruling a decision by a lower federal court last year. Professor Robert Weisberg, Director of the Criminal Justice Center at Stanford, clarifies today's decision.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why Do We Have Grand Juries? In Ferguson, Missouri and New York, grand jurors have refused to indict police officers who killed unarmed suspects, leading to protests across the country. The situation has left many wondering about the role of the grand jury in the criminal justice system : Why does it exist, and why is it necessary on top of regular jury trials?
Which Way, L.A.?
Prison Realignment and the Early Release of Jail Inmates Three years ago, the US Supreme court ruled that overcrowding in California’s prisons violated prisoners constitutional rights. The Brown Administration then instituted “realignment,” which means sending convicts for lesser crimes to county jails instead of state prisons. But there is no system of oversight—or even data collection—to determine the impact. So the LA Times conducted its own investigation .
Which Way, L.A.?
Coffeehouse Showdown: Gun Owners Test the Limits of the Law When Barack Obama was elected President, the National Rifle Association predicted a massive effort at gun control, and gun sales shot up last year by 39%. But when Chicago's ban on handguns was challenged last week in the US Supreme Court, the Obama Administration was silent.
To the Point
Coffeehouse Showdown: Gun Owners Test the Limits of the Law When Barack Obama was elected President, the National Rifle Association predicted a massive effort at gun control, and gun sales shot up last year by 39%. But he US Supreme Court has thrown out the handgun ban in Washington, DC, and when Chicago's ban on handguns was challenged last week in the US Supreme Court, the Obama Administration was silent. The Gallup Poll says that support for gun control in the US has dropped in the past 20 years from 78% to 44%. We hear about the history and possible future of gun control.
Recommended
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.