2008 Woodie Awards
Live and Let Die
Claire Webster
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Opinion
Ever since the death penalty has been put into place, people on death row have appealed their case and either tried to simply prolong the process or stop it altogether.
But for the first time, a stay has been placed on executions altogether in most of the states which allow it. These stays have been allowed by the Supreme Court, which has not yet heard the case that claims execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional.
According to cnn.com, washingtonpost.com and others, murderers Jack Alderman, William Castillo, Christopher Scott Emmett, Heliberto Chi, Troy Davis, Ralph Baze and more, were all granted stays of execution pending a hearing on the unconstitutionality of lethal injections.
Even though most of the aforementioned convicted inmates have been fighting for their right to live, one of them, Castillo, has never considered appealing his case.
Castillo's execution was set for 7 p.m. on October 15, but a hearing to grant a stay of execution proceeded at 4 p.m. that afternoon. He already had his last meal and made peace with the situation, but thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union, Castillo will have to wait.
When a person is put on death row, they are usually there for numerous years and are allowed to file an appeal at any time for any given reason. Whether there is merit to the appeal is up to the court, but the chance is still there.
After receiving the news that Castillo had been granted a stay of execution, according to the prison staff, he was actually upset that his execution had been halted.
Nancy Hart, president of the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty, was outside the prison, along with several other protesters, where Castillo was to be executed. Hart and her coalition had also filed appeals to Castillo's case.
At the protest Hart had claimed that it didn't matter what Castillo wanted or didn't want.
To her, it was about the process in which death penalty cases are handled and the unconstitutionality of execution by lethal injection.
Hart and the ACLU shouldn't interfere with the execution of a murderer if that person doesn't want them to. When the ACLU takes it upon itself to act on the killer's behalf claiming the method unconstitutional, they are impeding on Castillo's right to choose his own fate. If the two organizations truly want to help and make a difference, they should focus on the other cases where the convict actually wants their execution appealed.
Even though execution by lethal injection is under review and the Supreme Court is beginning to halt most executions, those who want to proceed with their assigned execution date should be able to.
Whether or not execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional is irrelevant at this point.
If Castillo is ready to die, let him. Don't stop the execution because of what other people believe.
But for the first time, a stay has been placed on executions altogether in most of the states which allow it. These stays have been allowed by the Supreme Court, which has not yet heard the case that claims execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional.
According to cnn.com, washingtonpost.com and others, murderers Jack Alderman, William Castillo, Christopher Scott Emmett, Heliberto Chi, Troy Davis, Ralph Baze and more, were all granted stays of execution pending a hearing on the unconstitutionality of lethal injections.
Even though most of the aforementioned convicted inmates have been fighting for their right to live, one of them, Castillo, has never considered appealing his case.
Castillo's execution was set for 7 p.m. on October 15, but a hearing to grant a stay of execution proceeded at 4 p.m. that afternoon. He already had his last meal and made peace with the situation, but thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union, Castillo will have to wait.
When a person is put on death row, they are usually there for numerous years and are allowed to file an appeal at any time for any given reason. Whether there is merit to the appeal is up to the court, but the chance is still there.
After receiving the news that Castillo had been granted a stay of execution, according to the prison staff, he was actually upset that his execution had been halted.
Nancy Hart, president of the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty, was outside the prison, along with several other protesters, where Castillo was to be executed. Hart and her coalition had also filed appeals to Castillo's case.
At the protest Hart had claimed that it didn't matter what Castillo wanted or didn't want.
To her, it was about the process in which death penalty cases are handled and the unconstitutionality of execution by lethal injection.
Hart and the ACLU shouldn't interfere with the execution of a murderer if that person doesn't want them to. When the ACLU takes it upon itself to act on the killer's behalf claiming the method unconstitutional, they are impeding on Castillo's right to choose his own fate. If the two organizations truly want to help and make a difference, they should focus on the other cases where the convict actually wants their execution appealed.
Even though execution by lethal injection is under review and the Supreme Court is beginning to halt most executions, those who want to proceed with their assigned execution date should be able to.
Whether or not execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional is irrelevant at this point.
If Castillo is ready to die, let him. Don't stop the execution because of what other people believe.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Freedom is not Free
posted 10/24/07 @ 7:11 PM PST
If they commit the crime and are convicted by a jury of thier peers and it is the death penalty. Then let justice take its course.
An Eye for an Eye. (Continued…)
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