Steve Sheppard wrote this piece (Sharon Keller, Troy Davis, and the Duty of a Death Case Judge) about the danger that the "technical rules will overcome the moral demand of the law", however, I don't like how he continues to support the death penalty:
- Eyewitnesses have just about as much chance pointing the finger at the wrong person than they do at the right person.
- Confessions can be false.
- Snitches can be snitching for personal gain.
- Many areas of forensic science are faulty.
- Not all law enforcement officials are concerned with the truth.
- Not all lawyers have their clients' best interests at heart.
With all of these things being true, how can we ever be sure we are executing the right person? Put aside the fact that the death penalty is more expensive, forget about the fact that it is and has never been an effective deterrent, and forget the fact that all other Western developed countries have outlawed it. The trump card when it comes to death penalty is: How can any decent human being with any sort of moral compass continue to support state-sanctioned killing when there is really no possible way to ensure you have the right person?
Technorati Tags: death penalty, sharon keller, troy davis, capital punishment, wrongful conviction, execution, prison, crime, law
We—officials and citizens—have a duty to ensure that the protections of the laws are secure, and that we execute only the person guilty of the crime accused. Otherwise we violate the American commitment to freedom, truth, and the rule of law.I just don't understand how anyone can continue to support an execution when it has been proven that:
- Eyewitnesses have just about as much chance pointing the finger at the wrong person than they do at the right person.
- Confessions can be false.
- Snitches can be snitching for personal gain.
- Many areas of forensic science are faulty.
- Not all law enforcement officials are concerned with the truth.
- Not all lawyers have their clients' best interests at heart.
With all of these things being true, how can we ever be sure we are executing the right person? Put aside the fact that the death penalty is more expensive, forget about the fact that it is and has never been an effective deterrent, and forget the fact that all other Western developed countries have outlawed it. The trump card when it comes to death penalty is: How can any decent human being with any sort of moral compass continue to support state-sanctioned killing when there is really no possible way to ensure you have the right person?
Technorati Tags: death penalty, sharon keller, troy davis, capital punishment, wrongful conviction, execution, prison, crime, law
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