John Kerry opposes the death penalty!! (And the Ninth Circuit stays an imminent execution.)

This month's issue of The Champion, the magazine of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, includes a piece about the presidential candidates' positions on criminal justice issues. Each of the Democratic contenders claims to support the death penalty, at least for "the most heinous crimes." EXCEPT for my boy John Kerry, who instead says:

"I oppose the death penalty other than in cases of real international and domestic terrorism. I support a moratorium on the death penalty because I believe that there are serious systemic flaws in the death penalty system, which have resulted in the conviction of people who are innocent. In fact, one hundred and eleven innocent people have already been released from death row because of wrongful convictions."

Bravo, Senator Kerry. Bravo.

In unrelated death penalty news, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit yesterday spared California inmate Kevin Cooper from execution, which was scheduled for 12:01 a.m. this morning. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the stay, and Cooper's case now will be reheard by an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit. Cooper's lawyers claim to have new evidence of their client's innocence. For the briefs and related documents in the Cooper case, go here. For recent news coverage, try this article in the Los Angeles Times or, if you have Real Player, this Morning Edition segment from NPR.

Comments

[myob]

im against death penalty. people should be able to live in peace on earth.........