This death penalty nutshell covers both the substantive and procedural law of capital cases, along with relevant history, jurisprudence and constitutional law. It addresses international issues, the complex role of defense counsel, systemic bias, and execution of the innocent.

Statutory and case law, as well as all relevant data, are current as of mid-2012, providing a basis for broad exploration of academic and pragmatic issues for lawyers, law students and others interested in the worst crimes committed by the worst offenders.