A Life of Crime
Season 2
The Death Penalty: in Context
Season 1
by Shifra Moriarty
Where did capital punishment begin? Why does it endure in the U.S. today? Global expert Professor Jordan Steiker shares his exceptional insights on America’s path from abolitionist roots and racist “legal” lynching to landmark Supreme Court cases. We unpack how race, religion and American Federalism has shaped capital punishment. From Furman’s false “end” to the controversies of lethal injection, we trace why executions have declined - yet the death penalty refuses to die.
How do you get a jury on side when it matters most? How can we train and listen to our intuition? Why are we bad at spotting liars? Today Professor James Walsh joins a Life of Crime to explore how psychology undermines our decision making in the courtroom. From 'unconscious bias' to 'cognitive dissonance,' James and Shifra grapple with key theories and explore how the legal profession could mitigate for them.