The Execution of Troy Davis

[NorthwestUteFan]

Fair enough.

[wuapinmon]

The question in my mind is not whether some people deserve to die. I think the answer to that is clearly "yes". The question is who makes that determination. Who gets to draw the line and determine that anyone on one side of the line deserves to die? I just don't trust the government enough to make this kind of decision. I am uncomfortable that these decisions can be driven by various types of bias. I am uncomfortable that these decisions can be driven by prosecutors who are influenced by political pressure or career ambition. I will not mourn Lawrence Brewer for a second, but I am uncomfortable that any system that allows us to execute people like him will also execute people like Troy Davis* or Cameron Willingham.


* I haven't followed the Davis case, and he may be completely guilty as charged. I am using him only as an example.

Well said. I think we leave that determination in the hands of a jury, as our ancestors have done for the previous approx. 1500 years. I don't think we have to demand perfection of guilt from a system that relies on mankind. If we use that same argument, I really feel like we can determine that any prosecution can be politically or personally motivated. The system hinges on our shared belief in the rights and tradition of the jury trial. If we don't think it works for capital punishment, then I don't think we can believe it a suitable metric of any kind of culpability.

[Clark Addison]

Well said. I think we leave that determination in the hands of a jury, as our ancestors have done for the previous approx. 1500 years. I don't think we have to demand perfection of guilt from a system that relies on mankind. If we use that same argument, I really feel like we can determine that any prosecution can be politically or personally motivated. The system hinges on our shared belief in the rights and tradition of the jury trial. If we don't think it works for capital punishment, then I don't think we can believe it a suitable metric of any kind of culpability.

I think this is a reasonable POV, but I have two main problems with it.

First, we can reverse a prison sentence if it is found to be wrong, while we find it a bit more difficult to reverse a death sentence.

Second, while the jury makes the ultimate death penalty decision (sometimes), all the decisions that lead to that point (whether they will be eligible for the DP, plea bargains, etc.) are in the hands of the prosecution.

[falafel]

I think this is a reasonable POV, but I have two main problems with it.

First, we can reverse a prison sentence if it is found to be wrong, while we find it a bit more difficult to reverse a death sentence.

Second, while the jury makes the ultimate death penalty decision (sometimes), all the decisions that lead to that point (whether they will be eligible for the DP, plea bargains, etc.) are in the hands of the prosecution.

That is why people on death row live another 20-30 years before they are executed. These things are always appealed forever and the government is almost never in any hurry to throw the switch.

[venkman]

So, like Mumia, he killed a cop. What's the deal with leftists and black cop killers?

[wuapinmon]

So, like Mumia, he killed a cop. What's the deal with leftists and black cop killers?

In your question lies an answer.