Even though the death verdict delivered by the jury yesterday in the Tsarnaev case did not surprise me, I can’t stop thinking about it. Given the relatively short amount of time the jury took to arrive at its verdict, I believe most jurors probably started the deliberations having already decided

[Editor’s Note: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death by a jury. Attorney General Loretta Lynch stated, “The ultimate penalty is a fitting punishment for this horrific crime,” and claimed it will bring victims’ families “closure.” In contrast, while condemning what Tsarnaev did, Amnesty International said it is “outrageous” that the

After 63 witnesses testified in the penalty phase, Steve Mellin stepped up to the lectern in courtroom 9 this morning, faced the jury and gave the government’s opening closing argument. Judy Clarke gave Jahar Tsarnaev’s closing argument. William Weinreb delivered the government’s rebuttal argument. The jury has retired to the

The defense and prosecution rested today and it looks like the jury is going to have to decide what sentence to impose without hearing directly from the defendant, Jahar Tsarnaev. Instead, they heard from him indirectly through the testimony of Sister Helen Prejean who met with him in March at

(The following is my account of my observations and perceptions having attended the eighth day, (Thursday, 7th. May), in the penalty phase of trial in the case of U.S. v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.) Proceedings in the courtroom today were once again subject to a lengthy delay while both the defense and