I never thought I’d see the day when a coalition of left-wing groups attacked a Republican judicial nominee for opposing the death penalty.

Since Furman v. Georgia in 1972 the American political Left has resolutely campaigned against capital punishment. Justice Brennan used to dissent every time the Supreme Court turned down an appeal from a death row inmate. Speaking at Georgetown University in 1985, he justified his practice by saying, “On this issue, I hope to embody a community striving for human dignity for all[.]” Justice Marshall always joined Justice Brennan in dissent. His explanation was, “It’s so morally correct, I wouldn’t think of giving it up.”