the arbitrary and discriminatory application of death sentences, which was ruled unconstitutional in Furman v. Georgia. The court ruled death row inmates are not entitled to a special appeals court review to ensure their sentences are proportionate to sentences given others convicted of similar crimes. 2 (Congressional Quartely Inc.) The court is stating that those accused of similar crimes do not have to receive similar sentences. This would make the death penalty an unusual sentence if it was only given in few instances where similar crimes were committed. The question of whether or not the death penalty is administered by race was brought to the Supreme Court in 1987 in McClesky v. Kemp. McClesky, a black man convicted of killing a white police officer, produced a study that showed that the death penalty is imposed based principally on the race of the victim. That those convicted of killing white people were more likely to receive the death penalty that those who killed blacks. If the death penalty is being applied unfairly based on the race of the victim than it would an unconstitutional punishment. 2(Congressional Quartely Inc.) The cruelty of executions has been documented by many eyewitness accounts of different executions. The descriptions of what happens to those put to death is nothing short of cruel punishment. One graphic description of a witnessed electrocution was given by Justice William J. Brennan in Glass v. Louisiana: The hands turn red, then white, and the cords of the neck stand out like steel bands...The prisoners limbs, fingers toes, and face are severely contorted...The force of the electric current is so powerful that the prisoners eyeballs sometimes pop out on his cheeks...The prisoner often defecates, urinates, and vomits blood and drool...Sometimes the prisoner catches fire. There is a sound like bacon frying and the sickly sweet smell of burning flesh. 4 (Dead Man Walking, page 19-20, 216-217). ...
