U.S. Supreme Court denies Alabama's death sentence law is unconstitutional

[presence]

Much of the criticism of Alabama's death sentencing scheme centers on a judge's ability to override jury recommendations for either death or life without the possibility of parole. The judges are elected, often on a platform of being tough on crime, critics say. Alabama, Florida and Delaware are the only states with such override laws, but judges in Alabama are the only ones in more than 16 years who have overridden jury recommendations of life without parole and imposed death penalties.

Shanklin was convicted of capital murder and attempted murder, which he committed during a home-invasion robbery in 2009 in Cordova.

A jury in Walker County Circuit Court recommended that Shanklin be sentenced to life-without-parole.

But the judge sentenced Shanklin to death

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/in..._hear_inm.html