The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the Department of Justice asking the Court to reinstate the death sentence of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The death sentence had been vacated by a lower court due to jury bias concerns.

According to CNBC:

The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will decide whether the death penalty can be reinstated for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was convicted of plotting along with his older brother the 2013 bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in which three were killed and hundreds injured.

In an order, the court agreed to hear an appeal filed by the Department of Justice of a lower court decision which wiped Tsarnaev’s death sentence. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the the trial court judge, U.S. District Court Judge George O’Toole, did not adequately ensure that jurors were unbiased in the high-profile case.

Attorneys for Tsarnaev argued in court papers that the justices should not consider the Justice Department’s appeal. They wrote that even if the court sides with the Justice Department in the case, it is likely that the 1st Circuit would still strike the death sentence on other grounds related to jury misconduct.

Tsarnaev was given 20 life sentences in addition to the death penalty, and will remain in prison for the remainder of his life regardless of the Supreme Court’s action.

The Supreme Court has dodged many high-profile cases recently but has decided to take up this case. Do you think the death penalty should be reinstated? Let us know in the comments below!