Effort to speed executions stalls in Senate

[Clara T]

Effort to speed executions stalls in Senate
Provision unrelated to security had been added to Patriot Act
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, December 25, 2005
 
Congress' last-minute decision to extend key search and surveillance provisions of the USA Patriot Act for five weeks has sidetracked, at least temporarily, a little-noticed but important provision intended to speed up death penalty cases in California and other states.

The proposal, attached to a version of the Patriot Act that was blocked by a Senate filibuster, represents the latest attempt by prosecutors to shorten timetables for capital case appeals that, in California, often last 20 years or more.

<snip>

The extension bill that Congress approved last week included only the 16 Patriot Act provisions that were due to expire next Saturday and not an assortment of prosecution-backed amendments that had won House passage, including the so-called fast-track proposal for death penalty appeals. But that measure is expected to be taken up again early next year, either joined to the Patriot Act or as part of separate legislation that would limit federal court appeals by state prisoners.

More:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/25/BAGF6GDAE41.DTL

[Warpy]

1. It takes an average of 8 years for exculpatory evidence

in a capital case to come to light, meaning that we're going to be killing a lot more innocent people than we already do. This is a really, really bad idea.

End the death penalty completely. It is unfairly applied to the poor, it is barbaric, it is not a deterrent, and too many innocent people are getting railroaded by ambitious DAs who suppress evidence to make themselves look good.

[davsand]

2. Should Terry Schiavo have been limited in appeals?

Compassionate Conservatives my ass.

They only give a shit about protecting white women in hospitals and specific clumps of cells.

I guess "bad" people are not worthy of any thought--eh?



Laura

[saigon68]

3. HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL

[Demeter]

4. They Must Have Found Out Penalty for Treason Is Death

There's a lot of sleeplessness in DC (or should be).