Posted on 02/11/2014 11:22:12 AM PST by jazusamo
Gov. Jay Inslee is calling a moratorium on executions while he is governor.
“Equal justice under the law is the state’s primary responsibility,” Inslee said during a news conference Tuesday morning. “And in death penalty cases, I’m not convinced equal justice is being served.”
Inslee said there was “too much at stake” in death penalty cases in what he termed an “imperfect system.”
“During my term we will not be executing people,” Inslee said.
Inslee cited the high cost of trials and appeals, the apparent randomness that death penalties are pursued and concerns that executions do not deter crime as reasons for his decision. Inslee said he is not asking the state Legislature to abolish the death penalty. He also cited the high cost of death-penalty cases, which he said are more expensive than sending some to prison for life.
“As governor, it is on my shoulders to come up with a decision for our whole state,” Inslee said. “I have made a decision. It is not an easy one.”
There are currently nine men on Washington’s death row.
“I think this is a relatively restrained use of the executive power,” Inslee said. “The citizens of the state of Washington can be assured the men of death row will be in prison for as long as they live.”
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
Off topic: Does the headline wording bother anybody else?
Exactly as expected. Elections have consequences.
Correction:
The people of King County in WA state elected this guy ... other voting districts are irrelevant.
People on death row sometimes commit more murders (of guards and prisoners) while in prison.
Execution stops them from killing ever again.
Seattle let the vile Green River Killer get life for “2 murders” in a plea deal that he wouldn’t get the death penalty for his lengthy rampage of rape and murder.
48 (49) convictions for murder. And taxpayers subsidize his lifestyle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Ridgway
Ever see the video of Richard Speck in prison (where he died and spent most of his life)? He was giving BJs and waving around hundred dollar bills. May have been snorting cocaine too.
What a rotten justice system.
“May he never lose a family member or friend to a vicious event. He might think otherwise.”
Like this family in Carnation, Washington, who were massacred on Christmas Eve by one of their own and her boyfriend. Six people gunned down mercilessly, including two small children who were looking forward to a joyful Christmas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Massacre
This isn’t right as these guys are already on death row. But after the Green River serial killer was caught and given a plea deal to avoid the death sentence (in turn for information leading to other burial sites of missing women), I think that the death penalty in Washington state is pretty much off the table for any future criminals.
Speck also had BREAST IMPLANTS. Look it up. To quote Michael Scott: he was “da Bell of da Ball.” in prison. He gloated on videotape about his sexploits in prison.
I’ve never seen the video (apart from a brief sequence on tv when it first became public after his death).
However, when searching for photos of him waving the money for an FR thread, I saw some of the photos with his chest. I didn’t know he had surgery, I just figured they were moobs.
How much did that cost taxpayers?
A speedy execution would’ve put an end to that surgical need, the corruption within the prison guard ranks, etc.
Slight correction - The people of King County (a k a Seattle) elected this guy, legalized same sex marriage and pot sales. In short, they swung the state from left/center to far left in one election based on numbers of voters in a small geographic area.
The state senate is a coalition of center/rights and the new Guv is now doing Obama-like end runs around them.
No surprise here, is there?
He halted abortions ?
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