From Reuters:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it would hear an appeal by Kansas of a state high court ruling that struck down the state's death penalty law.
The justices agreed to review a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that declared the law unconstitutional because it requires the death penalty be imposed when the sentencing jury finds the evidence for and against the defendant to be equal.
"The constitutionality of Kansas' death penalty statute and similar statutes in other states is an important issue that merits this court's attention," Attorney General Phill Kline said in the appeal.
The case involved Michael Marsh, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death for the 1996 fatal shooting of a 21-year-old woman and for then setting her house on fire, killing her 19-month-old daughter.
In striking down the law, the Kansas Supreme Court in December overturned Marsh's death sentence.
The justices will hear arguments in the case and then will issue a ruling during their upcoming term that begins in October.
A summary of the Kansas Supreme Court opinion can be found here
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