WP: Measure Would Alter Federal Death Penalty System

[DeepModem Mom]

Measure Would Alter Federal Death Penalty System
House Legislation to Renew USA Patriot Act Would Loosen Some Provisions for Execution
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 26, 2005; Page A02


The House bill that would reauthorize the USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism law includes several little-noticed provisions that would dramatically transform the federal death penalty system, allowing smaller juries to decide on executions and giving prosecutors the ability to try again if a jury deadlocks on sentencing.

The bill also triples the number of terrorism-related crimes eligible for the death penalty, adding, among others, the material support law that has been the core of the government's legal strategy against terrorism.

The death penalty provisions, which were added to the House bill during a voice vote in July, are emerging as one of the major points of contention between House and Senate negotiators as they begin work on a compromise bill to renew expiring portions of the Patriot Act. If approved, the provisions could have a significant impact on future Justice Department terrorism prosecutions.

The Senate version of the bill does not include the death penalty expansions. Senate Democrats say that the proposals are extraneous to the Patriot Act and should not be approved without fuller debate. Death penalty opponents and defense lawyers also contend that the measures, by removing some of the safeguards now in place, would increase the risk that innocent people could be executed.

"These are radical changes in the way federal death penalty cases are litigated, and they were added virtually without any debate," said Jennifer Daskal, U.S. program advocate for Human Rights Watch....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102502012.html

[leveymg]

1. Are they adding lies to send 2000 soldiers to their deaths to the list?

Terrorizing us with phony Iraqi WMDs certainly seems to be a form of terrorism to me.

I'm normally not a big fan of capital punishment, but if a jury were to conclude the death penalty is warranted in this case, who am I to stand in their way?

[primavera]

2. Sounds like the House alright...

That's about their speed - forcing through radical prosposals hidden in the fine print, introduced under closed rules so as to bar amendments or debate. And we have the nerve to call ourselves a democracy.

[MountainLaurel]

3. As we slip farther into the third world

The U.S. death penalty is already a central shame of this nation, and now we're going to make it easier to execute the innocent?

[maddezmom]

4. kick to combine

[The Kicker]

5. Patriot act bill would expand death penalty

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/13000365.htm

Patriot act bill would expand death penalty



WASHINGTON – The House bill that would reauthorize the USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism law includes several little-noticed provisions that would dramatically transform the federal death penalty system, allowing smaller juries to decide on executions and giving prosecutors the ability to try again if a jury deadlocks on sentencing.
The bill also triples the number of terrorism-related crimes eligible for the death penalty, adding, among others, the material support law that has been the core of the government’s legal strategy against terrorism.

The death penalty provisions, which were added to the House bill during a voice vote in July, are emerging as one of the major points of contention between House and Senate negotiators as they begin work on a compromise bill to renew expiring portions of the Patriot Act. If approved, the provisions could have a significant effect on future Justice Department terrorism prosecutions.
The Senate version of the bill does not include the death penalty expansions. Senate Democrats argue that the proposals are extraneous to the Patriot Act and should not be approved without fuller debate. Death penalty opponents and defense attorneys also contend that the measures would increase the risk that innocent people could be executed by removing some of the safeguards now in place.

More at link

[Neil Lisst]

6. What are they going to do? Slap the executed guy's mom?

Dig him up and kill him a second time?

Bush appeals to the worst instincts in humans.


http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst

[niallmac]

7. The Republicans produce so many initiatives that promote

the good in all of us don't they? They are a real beacon of hope for a brighter future
for all of humanity...Nazis.

[funflower]

8. Let's see.... coerced confessions are admissible, access to lawyers is

not required, torture is no big deal, accused persons are not even entitled to a military "tribunal" but only to a "commission" and now THIS. Real enlightened folks in the Congress these days....

[bluestateguy]

9. Almost all executions are done by state governments

The feds have only carried out 2 executions since 1961.

[The Kicker]

11. Looks like that might be fixin' to change. n/t

[Mind_your_head]

10. self-delete

[DaveColorado]

12. Christian Family Values

[Straight Shooter]

13. Any provision for expansion of death penalty parameters for treason?

Just curious.

[Solon]

15. I believe that would require a Constitutional Amendment...

Since it is the only crime stipulated in the Constitution, and has an extremely high standard for evidence, I doubt such an amendment would pass.

[Straight Shooter]

17. Probably just as well.

Current political environment, saying "bush is stupid" might qualify as treason in the minds of some of the powers that be.

Thanks for the info. :hi:

[The Kicker]

18. But the thought of that

may give pretender trolls everywhere a sweet moment of panic.

[MisterP]

14. the article doesn't give many specifics, but there was this:

"easier to impose a death sentence in cases in which the defendant did not have the intent to kill"
--like dumping Hummers in a flooded ditch?

[Canuckistanian]

16. Do-overs for the death penalty?

So the prosecutor gets free shots to allow the jury to come to a decision?

Is this done anywhere else?

[The Kicker]

19. Just what we need.

More killing.Never enough with the cabal in charge. Despotism and destruction are all these idjits have in their tool bag. This world could use a break from sh@t like this.