Supreme Court of the United States

Valle v. Florida — Breyer, J., dissenting

September 28, 2011180 L. Ed. 2d 940

Summary

Justice Breyer dissents from the denial of a stay of execution, arguing that executing Manuel Valle after more than 33 years on death row violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. He contends that such lengthy delays undermine the death penalty's deterrence and retributive purposes.