The Constitutional Court this afternoon decided against abolishing the death penalty, but limited the scope in which it can be applied to only the "most serious crimes."
The court heard oral arguments on the case on April 23 from attorneys representing 37 convicts on death row who have exhausted all other appeals.
Three justices recused themselves for having represented inmates on death row, leaving the remaining 12 to issue a ruling.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The majority ruling corresponded with the court’s three previous decisions on the issue in upholding the constitutionality of the death penalty.
However, the justices this time “limited its scope,” citing the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
These covenants specify that in countries that have not abolished the death penalty, “it shall be applied only in the most exceptional cases, for the most serious crimes and under the strictest limits.”
The ruling takes an expected middle ground on the issue, which polls show has significant public support despite opposition from many in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Today’s ruling was already delayed from July 22 after the justices decided they needed another two months as allowed by law to render a decision.
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