No more executions?
The week's news at a glance.
New York
A judge has declared the federal death penalty law unconstitutional, saying it created an “undue risk of executing innocent people.” U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff based his decision this week on research concerning dozens of inmates who had been sent to death row, only to be cleared later by DNA or other evidence. The flaws made the death penalty tantamount to “state-sponsored murder of innocent human beings,” Rakoff said. Prosecutors are expected to appeal. They had planned to seek the death penalty for two men—Alan Quinones and Diego Rodriquez—being tried before Rakoff on drug-related murder charges. For now, Rakoff’s ruling only affects that case.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibe
The Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort
-
Sudoku medium: October 8, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle