"It's Safe to Assume We Execute Innocent People"

[FourScore]

"It's Safe to Assume We Execute Innocent People"
by Abby Zimet

A judge in Texas, which has long led the country in executions, has ruled that the death penalty is unconstitutional. The ruling by state District Judge Kevin Fine, a tattooed recovering drug addict, infuriated prosecutors and set a precedent that observers say is likely to be overtuned.

"Based on the moratorium (on the death penalty) in Illinois, the Innocence Project and more than 200 people being exonerated nationwide, it can only be concluded that innocent people have been executed," Fine said. "It's safe to assume we execute innocent people."

Fine ruled in the case of John Green, accused of shooting a woman in 2008.

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2010/03/05-2

MORE ON THIS HERE:

Judge clarifies ruling criticizing death penalty
Despite criticism, Fine maintains innocent people have been executed
By BRIAN ROGERS
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
March 6, 2010, 7:39AM

A Houston judge who declared the death penalty unconstitutional Thursday clarified his ruling in an impromptu hearing Friday, saying he ruled the procedures surrounding the process in Texas are illegal.

During Friday's hearing, prosecutors filed motions asking state District Judge Kevin Fine to reconsider his ruling and also to proceed with April's death penalty trial of John Edward Green Jr. Fine maintained at the hearing that he believes innocent people have been executed.

Fine's clarification came in the wake of a firestorm of criticism from District Attorney Pat Lykos, the Texas Attorney General's Office and Gov. Rick Perry protesting that Fine ignored well-settled law.

Fine is expected to rule on the motions next week. He did not return calls for comment Friday.

When asked direct questions Thursday about his ruling, Fine said he was declaring the death penalty unconstitutional because he believes innocent people have been executed...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6899748.html

[LWolf]

1. I want to read more.

Can you provide a link?

:hi:

[FourScore]

5. My bad. It's there now with more. Thanks!

:hi:

[SlingBlade]

2. yep, its safe

[DFW]

3. I can totally understand Texas prosecutors getting upset

After all, if they can't get people killed, what the hell is their purpose in life, anyway?

[theoldman]

4. Texas has probably sent more innocent people to prison than any other state.

You can therefore conclude that it has executed more innocent people. A lot has to do with race but some were white. I remember when we had a governor who delighted in having people executed. He later became president.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Yes but he personally reviewed each case before signing the death order

He would devote all of 15 minutes to review each case.

Don

[Taitertots]

6. It is safe to assume innocent people have spent life in prison

[patrice]

7. If we kill one innocent person, doesn't that make us the same as those whom we execute?

Truth be known, I don't think we should kill the guilty either; they should stay in prison FOREVER and they should work and the benefits of their work should go to victims.

[LWolf]

8. As an opponent of the death penalty, I see this as a good thing.

I'm wondering what being tattooed, or being a "recovering drug addict," has to do with the legal argument. Is he still "recovering," or has he "recovered?"

Thanks for the links. ;)