I’m a proponent of the death penalty. I believe it a just sentence for those who commit murder. That said, I also expect our legal system to work. If a person is on trial for murder, then he or she should get the best possible representation. Unfortunately, that’s not always been the case in Texas. Too many mistakes have been made concerning death penalty cases. As such, I support a temporary freeze on executions until the state can fix the system.
One of the easy fixes would be for judges to be available for appeals. Last week Judge Sharon Keller closed the shop at 5:00 p.m. on the day Michael Richard was scheduled to be executed, despite his lawyers preparing a last-minute appeal and despite her colleagues waiting around for the appeal. Keller’s callous statement has icicles dripping from it:
“You’re asking me whether something different would have happened if we had stayed open,” Keller said, “and I think the question ought to be why didn’t they file something on time? They had all day.”
“They had all day.” Wow. A man’s life ended that night and she thinks 8-5 is all the time that is available? I don’t want to think about the time from 5 till Richard was executed. Imagine calling 911 and being told to call back the next day at 8.
I should say my dislike of what Judge Keller did is by no means sympathizing with Richard. He committed murder and should face the penalty. He is also entitled to the full course of legal options as anyone else is. Judge Keller appears to have short-shifted him and that’s just not right. She owes the tax-paying citizens of Texas an explanation. Her colleagues were willing to wait. She should have, too.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Clay // Oct 6, 2007 at
Dude - his lawyers had a TON of time. He was given all the appropriate legal opportunities.
If you want to b**** at someone, do so at his lawyers.
2 jse // Oct 6, 2007 at
The Supreme Court announced its decision in the Baze case around 10 AM on the morning of Richard’s execution. His lawyers had to rewrite their appeal based on the new development. They did not have a ton of time. They had only several hours.
The other judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals have said that had they been informed of the request to accept the appeal from Richard, they would have done so. But Keller made the decision on her own to tell Richard’s lawyer that the court closed at 5.
Keller should be removed from office and disbarred from practicing law. If in fact, she knew that there were other judges in the office willing and able to accept the appeal, then she should also probably be prosecuted by the Travis County District Attorney for obstructing justice.
3 Andrew // Nov 2, 2007 at
Remember anyone can be accused of murder. I certainly do not want my stay of execution denied because my lawyers just missed a 5:00pm deadline. That might be okay for the motor vehicle department but not a judge on a death penalty. If you want to punish the lawyers fine but not the one that they are representing especially on a death penalty case. That injustice should have Justice Keller removed from practice.
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