Bar groups urge California death penalty moratorium

[Kadie]

Bar groups urge California death penalty moratorium

By DAVID KRAVETS, AP Legal Affairs Writer


Last Updated: October 17, 2004, 12:50:21 PM PDT


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A delegation of 450 attorneys representing local bar associations statewide is urging a moratorium on the death penalty in California.

The Conference of Delegates of the California Bar Associations, representing prosecutors, criminal defenders and civil attorneys from dozens of bar groups says executions should be put on hold pending an inquiry into whether California administers the ultimate punishment fairly and uniformly.

"If you make a mistake, it's not like you can go back and correct a mistake because the person is dead," said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers, who has sent two men to death row.

The group is urging the California Legislature, and ultimately, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to impose a two-year moratorium on executions - a ban that could eventually become permanent. The proposal would create an independent investigative committee focusing on race, the reliability of convictions and whether the condemned had adequate legal representation. The group also wants an inquiry into the financial cost of capital punishment and whether the penalty is imposed too often.

more...
http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/9297719p-10203280c.html

[BrotherBuzz]

1. Arnie should listen to Illinois ex-Governor George Ryan

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/001395.html

Illinois Governor George Ryan Commutes all Death Row Sentences

It's official, from the spokesman of outgoing Illinois Governor Geoge Ryan: In a few minutes, at a press conference at Northwestern University Law School, home to the Center on Wrongful Convictions, Governor Ryan will grant clemency to all 156 death row inmates. This means the death sentences previously imposed on almost all of the inmates will automatically become life sentences, with no possibility of.

CNN and probably the other cable news networks will cover the press conference live. Please watch. It's important for the public to understand why this is not only the correct decision, but the only fair and just decision in a state where the death penalty system has broken down and so many innocent people have been wrongfully convicted.

"Ryan, who leaves office Monday, sent overnight letters to the families of murder victims warning them he would announce during a speech Saturday afternoon that he was commuting most of the death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of."

"What does it take? Now that we can say the number of wrongfully convicted men is 17, will that be enough?" Ryan asked.

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[slackmaster]

2. Ryan should get a medal for doing that

At least in California the situation is almost a de facto moratorium because of all the available appeals and the automatic appeal to the state Supreme Court. A Death Row inmate is more likely to die of natural causes than to get executed here.

[genius]

3. The California Democratic Party passed a res calling for legis moratorium

This was passed almost unanimously yet the mindless incumbents won't even listen to their own party.