One more reason to object to the death penalty, no matter what

[question everything]

A chilling story on "60 Minutes" where an innocent man was kept in jail for 26 years, even though a couple of lawyers knew he was innocent. Their client confessed to them that he was the real murderer, but they were tied by lawyer-client privilege.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/06/60minutes/main3914719.shtml?source=mostpop_story

They were concerned that he was going to get the death penalty but "luckily" for them he was sent to life in prison.

I am not an attorney and I really don't know what they could have done. I think that something like that can happen under the confessional seal, too.

Lucky for the innocent man, Alton Logan, the real killer signed an affidavit allowing the lawyers to tell the truth after his death, which occurred recently.

[TahitiNut]

1. One might wish for a method to provide such information to a pardon board ...

... under some kind of seal to preclude attorney/client confidentiality. In effect, the pardon board would be bound by the same ethics. Clearly, such a method could introduce other dangers.

I'm adamantly against the death penalty for this and other reasons.

[MnFats]

2. absolutely appalling. just appalling..

...just finished John Grisham's "The Innocent Man," also appalling nonfiction account of an emotionally disturbed man convicted of murder in oklahoma andwas five days away from execution before Barry Scheck et al secured DNA tests that proved him and another man innocent.
they spent 12 years in prison when their innocence could easily have been proved.

highly recommend this book.

checked the Ada, Okla newspaper online to learn that the prosecutor is still claiming he did no wrong and since they were guilty of other crimes (forging a $300 check!) it was understandable that they were considered prime suspects....


appalling...

[TahitiNut]

3. I just read that a few weeks ago Absolutely appalling, wasn't it???

I join you in recommending it. It's a VERY disturbing read ... but essential.

[lonestarnot]

4. But the Gulag needs victims! Why should we kill them?