(Chief justice of CA Sup Ct) George calls death penalty 'dysfunctional'

[question everything]

Monday, May 1, 2006

AP Interview: George calls death penalty 'dysfunctional'

By: DAVID KRAVETS - AP Legal Affairs Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The chief justice of the California Supreme Court said the state's death penalty has become "dysfunctional" and blamed lawmakers for looking the other way as 650 condemned inmates idle on death row.

Ronald George said in an interview with The Associated Press that the Legislature's inability to adequately fund capital punishment has led to a de facto moratorium on executions in California.

"I think that there are many, many things in the eyes of legislators that have greater priority," said George, who marks his 10th anniversary as chief justice on Monday. "That's the problem. People want to have the death penalty, but they don't want to pay everything it costs to have it implemented in a judicious manner."

Although California has the nation's largest death row, there are no executions in sight as a federal judge considers whether the three-drug cocktail used to put inmates to death here is unconstitutionally cruel.

More..

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/05/01/news/state/43006182902.txt

[MidwestTransplant]

1. Maybe they should defund education and health care in favor

of the DP?