re: #286 Decatur Deb

The local sheriff can decide to order the death of an American citizen on US soil.

No, he really can’t. If he were to put such an order into writing he’d be liable to be charged with murder under color of authority. He needs a court order or reviewable exigent circumstances to simply have a house or car searched. We aren’t talking about some hostage standoff here, we’re talking about targeting somebody because of who they are. A sheriff can order an arrest, and a person can be killed while resisting, but that’s worlds away from actually ordering a killing.

In the US up until now only the courts have had that power.