Military to Seek Death Penalty for Fort Hood Massacre

Even though the military justice system hasn’t actually executed anyone in over 50 years, military prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty in the case of alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, The Wall Street Journal reports this morning. Hasan was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday. That’s not surprising, given the magnitude of the crime. But it will likely mean a long and arduous legal battle before the ultimate punishment is actually decided.

The challenges of capital punishment in the military system include the lack of “death-qualified” defense attorneys, and the right to a series of appeals in military and civilian courts. The president also has to personally sign off on the ultimate execution.