Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/14pdf/14-7955_aplc.pdf
Page Number: 89.0

Cite as:  576 U. S. ____ (2015) 

39 

BREYER, J., dissenting 

tutionality.  I  note,  however,  that  many  nations—indeed,
95  of  the  193  members  of  the  United  Nations—have  for­
mally  abolished  the  death  penalty  and  an  additional  42 
have  abolished  it  in  practice.    Oakford,  UN  Vote  Against 
Death  Penalty  Highlights  Global  Abolitionist  Trend–and 
Leaves the US Stranded, Vice News, Dec. 19, 2014, online 
at https: / /news.vice.com / article / un-vote-against-death- 
penalty-highlights-global-abolitionist-trend-and-leaves-the
us-stranded.  In 2013, only 22 countries in the world car­
ried out an execution.  International Commission Against 
Death Penalty, Review 2013, pp. 2–3.  No executions were 
carried  out  in  Europe  or  Central  Asia,  and  the  United
States was the only country in the Americas to execute an
inmate  in  2013.    Id.,  at  3.    Only  eight  countries  executed 
more than 10 individuals (the United States, China, Iran,
Iraq,  Saudi  Arabia,  Somalia,  Sudan,  Yemen).    Id.,  at  2. 
And  almost  80%  of  all  known  executions  took  place  in
three  countries:  Iran,  Iraq,  and  Saudi  Arabia.    Amnesty
International, Death Sentences and Executions 2013, p. 3 
(2014).  (This  figure  does  not  include  China,  which  has  a
large  population,  but  where  precise  data  cannot  be  ob­
tained.  Id., at 2.) 

V 
I recognize a strong counterargument that favors consti­
tutionality.  We are a court.  Why should we not leave the 
matter  up  to  the  people  acting  democratically  through
legislatures?  The Constitution foresees a country that will 
make  most  important  decisions  democratically.    Most 
nations that have abandoned the death penalty have done
so  through  legislation,  not  judicial  decision.    And  legisla­
tors,  unlike  judges,  are  free  to  take  account  of  matters
such as monetary costs, which I do not claim are relevant
here.  See, e.g., Berman, Nebraska Lawmakers Abolish the 
Death  Penalty,  Narrowly  Overriding  Governor’s  Veto, 
Washington Post Blog, Post Nation, May 27, 2015) (listing 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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