Meet your new thread, same as the old thread.

[Cletus Miller]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop

• ATLANTA — A man convicted of killing a police officer won a reprieve a day before his scheduled execution, after his lawyers argued that several witnesses had recanted or changed their testimony.
  
  The state Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday granted a stay of execution of up to 90 days to Troy Davis, 38, who was convicted of killing a Savannah police officer in 1989.
  
  He had faced a Tuesday execution date before the board's decision, which came after less than an hour of deliberation. The stay means the execution will be on hold while the board weighs the evidence presented as part of Davis' request for clemency. The board must rule by Oct. 14.

linko

Does this work out any better for him than commutation to a __-to-life sentence? Doesn't seem likely. And once he's off death row, does anyone spend the time and money to try to get him released?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Does this work out any better for him than commutation to a __-to-life sentence? Doesn't seem likely. And once he's off death row, does anyone spend the time and money to try to get him released?

He gets a chance to show them his evidence. If they're convinced, I assume he can be pardoned. If not, I assume he gets another date with the executioner.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Does this work out any better for him than commutation to a __-to-life sentence? Doesn't seem likely. And once he's off death row, does anyone spend the time and money to try to get him released?

I always had the cynical thought that in these cases where there's some evidence of innocence (or procedural error), the governor or whoever should commute the death sentence to life in prison. At that point, all the amnesty int'l types and the press become bored and the guy stays in the hole for the rest of his life.

[Cletus Miller]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
He gets a chance to show them his evidence. If they're convinced, I assume he can be pardoned. If not, I assume he gets another date with the executioner.

Sure, he can be pardoned, but he's a convicted cop killer--never a favorable position. Maybe the Board thinks that there is enough doubt to commute the sentence, but not overturn the conviction--that's essentially what happened to most of the Illinois death row inmates who had their sentences commuted by ex-Gov. George Ryan. Now they have life sentences in gen. pop.

From what I know about Troy Davis (just a little), I hope that his pro bono counsel (from Arnold & Porter) sticks with the case if his sentence is commuted, but if he doesn't, it wouldn't be the first time that a case gets dropped once the convict is off death row.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
I always had the cynical thought that in these cases where there's some evidence of innocence (or procedural error), the governor or whoever should commute the death sentence to life in prison. At that point, all the amnesty int'l types and the press become bored and the guy stays in the hole for the rest of his life.

President Bush likes to second-guess judges' decisions - maybe he should do so in this case, where there is actually some evidence to support doing so.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
President Bush likes to second-guess judges' decisions - maybe he should do so in this case, where there is actually some evidence to support doing so.

Bush didn't second guess a judge's decision. Walton sentenced Libby to the lower end of the Guidelines range.

What Bush second-guessed was legislation passed by Congress and implemented by the sentencing commission, and advocated strenuously by his own AG.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Sure, he can be pardoned, but he's a convicted cop killer--never a favorable position. Maybe the Board thinks that there is enough doubt to commute the sentence, but not overturn the conviction--that's essentially what happened to most of the Illinois death row inmates who had their sentences commuted by ex-Gov. George Ryan. Now they have life sentences in gen. pop.

In Illinois, I thought Ryan's problems went to the entire scheme involving their prosecution, defense, trial and conviction. Here, the questions are pretty specific to the evidence (or lack thereof) of his guilt -- most crucially, that the witnesses against him have all recanted.

[Cletus Miller]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
In Illinois, I thought Ryan's problems went to the entire scheme involving their prosecution, defense, trial and conviction. Here, the questions are pretty specific to the evidence (or lack thereof) of his guilt -- most crucially, that the witnesses against him have all recanted.

Absolutely, different underlynig facts. There's little comparison as to the basis for commutation. I was, perhaps inartfully, comparing the potential outcome for Troy Davis to the outcome for the beneficiaries of Ryan's mass commutation.

Burger's point about cynical commutation has been raised once or twice in reference to the Illinois guys (numbering 156), who now will not benefit from the attention or more substantial review afforded to death row inmates. They're just regular old lifers now (all but 3 were commuted to life w/o parole; the other 3 are 40 to life)--no one much cares about them.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

more

etft

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone Slothrop
more

Gee - aren't you the one always claiming that you don't read Kos?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Gee - aren't you the one always claiming that you don't read Kos?

If someone else links to a page there, I'll go check it out.

[Shape Shifter]

Bill Kristol in the WaPo:

• What it comes down to is this: If Petraeus succeeds in Iraq, and a Republican wins in 2008, Bush will be viewed as a successful president.
  
  I like the odds.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1


What odds is he giving? I'd like some of that action.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Bill Kristol in the WaPo:

• What it comes down to is this: If Petraeus succeeds in Iraq, and a Republican wins in 2008, Bush will be viewed as a successful president.
  
  I like the odds.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1


What odds is he giving? I'd like some of that action.

I like Kristol. He strikes me as an honest straight shooter who is sincere for someone in Washington - however, he is almost always wrong.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I like Kristol. He strikes me as an honest straight shooter who is sincere for someone in Washington - however, he is almost always wrong.

Bullshit. He's a neocon shitbag in the same bukkake circle with Wolfowitz and Perle. His father's loony policies, which he pushed in the Iraq run-up, are the bible for the pre-emptive war shuckers.

Fuck Bill Kristol. If I believed in hell I'd wish him eternity treading water in a public toilet.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
From what I know about Troy Davis (just a little), I hope that his pro bono counsel (from Arnold & Porter) sticks with the case if his sentence is commuted, but if he doesn't, it wouldn't be the first time that a case gets dropped once the convict is off death row.

Like. A. Stone.