Melville House Books

The Colorado Supreme Court yesterday “threw out the death penalty in a rape-and-murder case” because jurors read the Bible during deliberations, giving special attention to “verses such as ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” reports an Associated Press wire story by Steven K. Paulson. Jurors had convicted Robert Harlan to death for raping and murdering Rhonda Maloney, but in a 3-2 vote, the Colorado justices changed the sentence to life without parole. Their decision explained that “at least one juror in this case could have been influenced by these authoritative passages to vote for the death penalty when he or she may otherwise have voted for a life sentence.” Prosecutors are considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.