It's been more than 25 years since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. For most of that time, the number of executions in this country climbed steadily higher. In the past several years, however, the death penalty has come under increasing criticism. Executions have fallen nationwide from a high of 98 in 1998 to 66 in 2001. Two states, Illinois and Maryland, declared moratoria on the death penalty over concerns that the death penalty could not be administered fairly. Is the death penalty immoral in and of itself? If not, is it unconstitutional? What is required to ensure that the death penalty is administered with fairness, justice, and accuracy?

Recorded on Thursday, November 7, 2002

Cast

Alex Kozinski

Alex Kozinski

Scott Turow

Scott Turow

Related

Articles

California’s Wealth Tax Boomerang

[Subscription Required] The history of wealth taxes is that they raise much less revenue than hoped as targeted taxpayers find ways to avoid them. That looks to be the case with California’s wealth tax ballot measure (Proposition 40), which a new paper by the Hoover Institution’s Joshua Rauh and Benjamin Jaros estimates will result in a net revenue loss of $38.9 billion.

October 21, 2026

Articles

A California Wealth Tax Wouldn't Work. But This One Would

Hoover Institution fellow Robert E. Hall's 2026 Nobel win offers an opportunity to recall another of his major contributions with Hoover Institution fellow Alvin Rabushka: the idea of a single flat tax. They proposed a flat tax that would simplify tax collection and increase investment in physical and human capital, without abandoning the idea of progressive taxes.

October 22, 2026

Articles

After The Blue Wave

Why we still need democratic reform.

October 21, 2026