Trump-appointed judge says death penalty for child sex crimes may be legal

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https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-appointed-judge-says-death-penalty-child-sex-crimes-may-be-legal-2026-06-24/

Trump-appointed judge says death penalty for child sex crimes may be legal
By Nate Raymond
June 24, 2026 3:47 PM CDT

June 24 (Reuters) - A conservative federal judge on Wednesday took the position that despite a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring the death penalty for child rape, prosecutors today may be free to seek capital punishment in cases involving sexual offenses against children.

St. Louis-based U.S. District Judge Joshua ​Divine, who was appointed to the bench only last year by Republican President Donald Trump, delivered his views in an unusual ‌court opinion issued on the same day he was set to sentence a Missouri man who faced a maximum prison term of 20 years.

That man, Anthony Moore, had pleaded guilty in March to receiving child pornography. Prosecutors said Moore during his plea admitted to engaging in sex acts with a 13-year-old and that he ​had sought nude photos of the girl, images of whom were found on his phone.

"Anthony Moore repeatedly raped a child and ​created images of child pornography," Divine wrote in a 23-page opinion. "Historically, offenders like him could have faced capital ⁠punishment."

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