Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Supreme Court rules that death penalty isn't necessarily cruel and unusual punishment and can deter crime. Court rules 7-2 to uphold death penalty in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Court votes 5-4 to strike down death penalty in North Carolina and LA.
REPORTER: John Chancellor

(DC) Justice Potter Stewart reads opinion. He notes major of states that reinstituted death penalty laws after court's 1972 ruling. Justice Lewis Powell says penalty may deter crime. Dissenter Justice Thurgood Marshall says no evidence that penalty needed. Executions may be resumed if judge and jury considered character and record of each offender and circumstances of ea. crime. There must be review by higher court to insure sentence is not disproportionate to the crime, nor arbitrary or capricious.
REPORTER: Carl Stern Artist: Betty Wells

(No location given) 600 are on death row in 30 states. Impact of court's decision depends on each state's laws.
REPORTER: Carl Stern

(DC) NBC poll shows that 21% oppose death penalty; 71% want it restored.
REPORTER: Carl Stern

(Studio) There is wide public support for death penalty. 3 president candidates support it for certain crimes.
REPORTER: David Brinkley