John Bessler
Law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. He writes extensively about the death penalty, human rights, and the history of punishment.
Best podcasts with John Bessler
Ranked by the Snipd community
18 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 48min
We the People: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Carol Steiker and John Bessler, experts on capital punishment, dive deep into the complexities of the Eighth Amendment. They explore what defines cruel and unusual punishment and discuss its historical roots, including significant figures like Cesare Beccaria. The conversation touches on legal challenges surrounding specific cases, particularly the infamous firing squad execution. Racial disparities in the death penalty and landmark rulings like Furman v. Georgia highlight the ongoing moral debates surrounding justice and punishment in America.
16 snips
Oct 15, 2026 • 48min
Is the death penalty cruel and unusual?
John Bessler, a University of Baltimore law professor who writes on capital punishment, and Carol Steiker, a Harvard scholar and co-author of Courting Death, explore the Eighth Amendment’s shifting meaning. They trace its Enlightenment roots, examine racial arbitrariness in Furman v. Georgia, and revisit the death penalty’s return. The discussion also considers solitary confinement, forced labor, homelessness bans, and evolving standards of decency.
