The Supreme Court will be deciding if a convicted criminal's rights are violated when forced to wear shackles during the sentencing phase of their trial.
Background
In 1996, Carmen Deck knocked on the door of elderly couple, James and Zelma Long, with the pretense of needing directions. When he got inside their home, he shot them both in the head and stole around $400. He was later caught, confessed, and then convicted of the double-murder by a Missouri jury.
When Deck and was brought to the sentencing phase of his trial, he was shackled in leg irons and handcuffed to a chain around his belly. He was shackled during the entire six-hours that the took to decide between giving him a life sentence or the death penalty. He was given the death penalty.
The Supreme Court will now decide if Deck's sentence should be thrown out based on whether or not his right to a fair death penalty hearing was violated. The concern is that prisoners that are shackled look dangerous, which could influence the decision of the jury.
