Re: California Clemency
One of the problems with executing peopling is (for me) it requires a legal system with reasonable integrity intact. We dont have that in the United States; our judicial system is one of the most corrupted on the planet.<br /><br />In the last couple of years Calif has released 4 prisoners that were wrongfully convicted. They served from 12 to 20+ years before their convictions were tossed out. In each of the four cases the DAs office withheld evidence that proved beyond doubt the person they were bring to trial was innocent. So far, none of the people involved at any of the DAs offices has been charged, reprimanded, or in any way made to pay for what they did.<br /><br />Locally, we now have a fellow on death row, Scott Peterson. Hes to be executed for killing his wife and unborn child. I wouldnt have a problem with that if there was any evidence that showed Peterson did that. Such evidence wasnt presented at his trial. He is to be executed because a jury thinks he committed the crimes, not because anyone knows he did it. The judge erred by ever allowing the jury to deliberate. After the prosecution presented their case the judge should have dismissed the charges for lack of evidence. That is the judges responsibility, thats why he has that authority. He sits between popular public opinion and unbiased justice. Well, hes supposed to, but didnt.<br /><br />A couple years ago Illinois halted all of their death penalties because it was discovered DNA evidence was showing some convictions were in err.<br /><br />Basically, unless someone steps up to the plate and says yeah, I did it and there is undisputed evidence that person actually did commit a capital crime, Im no longer comfortable with implementing any death sentence. And I am NOT opposed to the death penalty.<br /><br />Was it Patrick Henry that said better 1000 guilty men go free than 1 innocent man hang. ?!?
One of the problems with executing peopling is (for me) it requires a legal system with reasonable integrity intact. We dont have that in the United States; our judicial system is one of the most corrupted on the planet.<br /><br />In the last couple of years Calif has released 4 prisoners that were wrongfully convicted. They served from 12 to 20+ years before their convictions were tossed out. In each of the four cases the DAs office withheld evidence that proved beyond doubt the person they were bring to trial was innocent. So far, none of the people involved at any of the DAs offices has been charged, reprimanded, or in any way made to pay for what they did.<br /><br />Locally, we now have a fellow on death row, Scott Peterson. Hes to be executed for killing his wife and unborn child. I wouldnt have a problem with that if there was any evidence that showed Peterson did that. Such evidence wasnt presented at his trial. He is to be executed because a jury thinks he committed the crimes, not because anyone knows he did it. The judge erred by ever allowing the jury to deliberate. After the prosecution presented their case the judge should have dismissed the charges for lack of evidence. That is the judges responsibility, thats why he has that authority. He sits between popular public opinion and unbiased justice. Well, hes supposed to, but didnt.<br /><br />A couple years ago Illinois halted all of their death penalties because it was discovered DNA evidence was showing some convictions were in err.<br /><br />Basically, unless someone steps up to the plate and says yeah, I did it and there is undisputed evidence that person actually did commit a capital crime, Im no longer comfortable with implementing any death sentence. And I am NOT opposed to the death penalty.<br /><br />Was it Patrick Henry that said better 1000 guilty men go free than 1 innocent man hang. ?!?
<br /><br />...Bob in Calif... "Better Right, Than Not"
