Death penalty divides Supreme Court after Scalia's death
The death of Justice Antonin Scalia has left the Supreme Court divided down the middle on the death penalty at a time when its constitutionality is coming under increased scrutiny.
The justices deadlocked 4-4 late Thursday night over the scheduled execution of an Alabama prisoner who killed a police officer three decades ago. Without Scalia's vote, they could not overrule a state court that had blocked the execution based on the inmate's mental state.