Supreme Court Bars Executions of Murderers Under 18

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A closely divided U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday abolished the death penalty for those who committed a murder under the age of 18, a major victory for opponents of capital punishment.

By a 5-4 vote, the high court declared unconstitutional the juvenile death penalty, a decision that could affect about 70 death row inmates who face execution for crimes done when they were 16 or 17 years old.

© Reuters 2005