The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing today the constitutionality of imposing the death penalty on a child rapist.

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing today the constitutionality of imposing the death penalty on a child rapist. The case involves Patrick Kennedy. He was convicted for the March 2, 1998 aggravated rape of his then eight year old step-daughter, then sentenced under a 1995 Louisiana law that allows the death penalty for the rape of a child under the age of 12. (see Aug. 23, 2003). The decision on the Kennedy case is much awaited across the nation since allowing death penalty for child rape in Louisiana would lead to other states passing a similar law. So far 5 states have passed legislation approving capital punishment for rapists of young children.