Word: leeway
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...arguing a subtle paradox. The prudence and selectivity required by the court, they say, means that executions will be carried out only rarely, and thus will remain arbitrary and freakish, a sort of death lottery. There is always caprice along the way to death row. Prosecutors have great leeway in deciding which homicides to try as capital murders. A killer can be persuaded to testify against an accomplice to save his own life. Brooks was convicted and executed; for the same murder his partner must serve only eight more years in prison...
...during the 1960s and early '70s, however, federal courts were becoming ever more scrupulous in their review of capital sentences. Then, in 1972, came the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling: in Furman vs. Georgia, the court decided that state laws permitted judges and juries so much leeway in prescribing death that the sentence as applied was arbitrary, and thus unconstitutional. Capital punishment, wrote Justice Potter Stewart, was "freakishly imposed" on a "capriciously selected random handful" of murderers. However, in three simultaneous 1976 decisions, the court clarified its views on the subject, most significantly by declaring that...
Mason followers are given more leeway. Although they must take half of their eight courses at the school or in a pre-chosen "home" department, the remaining four chosen are left open to electives. As program direction Nancy Pyle explains, "All of these people have already had experience and are pretty good at what they do. As it is, a whole year away from their careers is a long time; we must have a totally flexible program...
Moyers, given unprecedented leeway at CBS, is a different matter. Bright, ambitious and articulate, he set out to be a Baptist preacher, became Lyndon Johnson's press secretary, and has built up a considerable television following, almost a cult, for his documentaries. At 47, he is on the way to becoming a formidable asset for CBS, but riskily so in ways that he and CBS may not realize. His documentary 3½ weeks ago, on Reagan's poverty victims, was powerful stuff and drew a Reagan demand for a half-hour reply. CBS refused. Critics have sought...
...week with Dingman and other College officials and discussing issues put forth by an executive committee. One issued discussed at length in this format was the fall's controversy over alcohol politely, when College officials' attempts to monitor alcohol at Halloween parties sparked debate over just now much leeway Masters should have in interpreting College policy...