Earlier this year after more than 16 years the Trump administration announced its intent to resumeexecuting death row prisoners. The last time thefederal government carried out the death penalty was in 2003, the long hiatus due to continued court battles over the drugs used to carry out the executions.
Two Appeals Courts, including the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit,have ruled against the administrationin their rush to begin executions this month. It said that issues with the lethal injection protocol are still unresolved. However, the Trump administration is so intent on quickly resuming executions thatitasked the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Over the weekend, the Supreme Court declined to overturn to lower court rulings saying they expect the issue to be resolved at the appeals court level. The Trump administration said they were disappointed in the ruling and would continue to the legal battle.
The short list of prisoners who would likely be the first executed include those convicted of heinous and grisly crimes. For example,Daniel Lewis Leewas scheduled to be executed on Dec. 9. Lee and his co-defendant were convicted of murdering a couple and their 8-year-old daughter.
Yet, when one delves into the testimony of the case, we find that it was Lees co-defendant, Chevie Kehoe, who killed the young girl after Lee refused to do so. Kehoe was the ringleader of this crime, according to Judge G. Thomas Eisele. However, Kehoe received a sentence of life in prison while the less culpable Lee was sentenced to death.
The miscarriage of equal justice in this case has prompted the presiding judge, the victims family members and the U.S. attorney, who investigated and prosecuted the case, to plea for Lees clemency.
This case highlights why death penalty opposition has grown steadily over the past 20 years around the world and here at home.
Numerous states considered death penalty repeals this year. Recently,New Hampshire became the 21st state to abolish the death penalty. These efforts in the statehouse are increasingly bipartisan.
Just last month, well-known conservatives including former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Gov. George Ryan (R-Ill.), and Richard Vigueriesigned a statement expressing their opposition.
Calling the death penalty a costly and ineffective government program, the statement says that the death penalty does not work and cant be made to work, not in spite of our conservative principles, but because of them.
Once a defender of the death penalty, I changed my mind back in 2010 as New Mexicos governor when I signed into law our states repeal. When I considered the evidence, I concluded that the death penalty was not an effective deterrent to violent crime and the data in this regard is clear.
Rheres the growing body of research showing the grave mistakes made by judges, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and even juries that has led to increasing exonerations.Most people sentenced to death are poor and minority defendantswho have not been flanked by the best legal teams and expert witnesses available to white collar criminals.
Earlier this year,members of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty met with Pope Francis to discuss the worldwide movement to end this heinous practice. Pope FrancisPope FrancisSCOTUS is blocking federal executions and it's the right thing to do Judge in same-sex marriage denied communion at Michigan Catholic church Pope appeals to world leaders to renounce nuclear weapons MORE deserves praise for his global leadership to help end use of the death penalty. In August 2018, building on the work of his predecessor, Pope Benedict, Pope Francis ordered achange in the Catholic Churchs Catechism to state clear opposition to capital punishment.
It is, in itself, contrary to the Gospel, because a decision is voluntarily made to suppress a human life, which is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator and of whom, in the last analysis, only God can be the true judge and guarantor, Pope Francis wrote.
The challenge posed to us as Americans not as Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, but as human beings is to keep front and center in our minds what this decision and others mean to each one of us as the 2020 election approaches.
Bill Richardson is a former Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Energy Secretary, and Governor for the State of New Mexico. He founded the Richardson Center for Global Engagement in 2011 to promote global peace and dialogue by identifying and working on areas of opportunity for engagement and citizen diplomacy with countries and communities not usually open to more formal diplomatic channels.
Read the original post:
SCOTUS is blocking federal executions and it's the right thing to do | TheHill - The Hill
- 'Shrinkflation'? Blame the Fed - Newsmax - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Ron Paul Tells Tucker Carlson the Exact Date There Was a Coup and We Lost Our Government - Mediaite - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Ron Paul: It Dawned On Me That The Republic Was Gone When Allen Dulles Was Appointed To The Warren ... - RealClearPolitics - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- The rise and - possible - fall of David Shafer - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Yes, that was Paul Hornung on Packers' sideline in Ice Bowl - Packers.com - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Cap Times Idea Fest 2023 save the dates | Paul Fanlund ... - The Capital Times - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Folks tell Ron Keller his memories of growing up in Naperville could ... - Positively Naperville - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- The Man Who Invented the Trillion-Dollar Coin - New York Magazine - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Opinion | Why Texas Republicans Are Targeting Renewable Energy - The New York Times - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- States that have produced the most NBA Finals champions - MaxPreps - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- All Community Pro-Am starting holes on Saturday, Sunday - McCook Daily Gazette - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- The World and Everything in It: June 2, 2023 - WORLD News Group - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Sen. Rand Paul staffer's parents speak out after he was 'brutally ... - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Rand Paul staff member stabbed in D.C., has life-threatening injuries - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Aide to Senator Rand Paul critically wounded in Washington DC stabbing ... - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- The Antiwar Movement Roars Back to Life | CNSNews - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Ron Pauls Retirement Advice: Do This One Thing ASAP - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : The Antiwar Movement ... - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Feb. 19: Ron Paul, Tulsi Gabbard to Speak at Anti-War Rally ... - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- 5 Things You May Not Know About Ron Paul : NPR - NPR.org - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- The Real Disinformation Was The Russia Disinformation Hoax - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : The Real ... - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Paul McCartneys Decade-Long Creative Surge Post-Beatles To Be Explored In Man On The Run From Oscar Winner Morgan Neville - Deadline - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Ron Paul hospitalized after he appears to suffer stroke - New York Post - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- Ron Paul Issues an Urgent Warning to Retirement Savers - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Zelenskyy Regime to ... - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- XPONENTIAL FITNESS, INC. : Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance... - January 15th, 2023 [January 15th, 2023]
- Ron Paul: 'Twitter Files' Make It Clear, We Must Abolish The FBI - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: A Tale Of Two Midterms | ZeroHedge - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Retiring History Theatre artistic director Ron Peluso looks back at fond moments from his 27 years on the job - St. Paul Pioneer Press - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Ron Paul | Biography, Education, Books, & Facts | Britannica - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Is Washingtons ... - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Europe Commits ... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign - Wikipedia - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- Nevada's micronation of Molossia has a sounder currency than the dollar - Washington Times - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Dune Sound Team on Finding "The Voice," Using "Fake Documentary Realism" & the Rescue of Paul Atreides - Below the Line |... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Paul LePage has softened his stance on immigration. Or has he? - Bangor Daily News - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 38 Celeb Couples Who Have Been Together More Than 20 Years, Which Is Like, 150 Years In Normal People Time - BuzzFeed - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: It's Time To Tell Biden We Say 'No!' To Nuclear War OpEd - Eurasia Review - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Moment the Republican Party Lost Control - The New Republic - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Paul Ryan: Trumps unelectability will be palpable by 2024 - The Hill - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Fourteen to the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind - Governor Ron DeSantis - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Paul Newman recalls losing his only son Scott to addiction in memoir: I never thought it would be fatal - Fox News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- How To Resist CBDCs5 Ways You Can Opt Out of This Dystopian Future - International Man - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Bob Doucette: 2022 campaign a Wild West of ideas of how to govern Oklahoma - Tulsa World - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Warm start to the week, then chilly temps later; thunderstorm chance Tuesday evening - MPR News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: Will Italys Election Foreshadow US Midterms? - Libertarian Party - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- With POTUS non-endorsement endorsement of Ron DeSantis, the race for Florida Governor is over - Florida Politics - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Miranda Webb: Trauma, anarchy and perilous life on the run from Northeast Ohio to Mexico - Akron Beacon Journal - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Ben Sasse and the battle over what kind of conservative leads the GOP - Washington Examiner - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Slayden carries Wood River past Freeburg and back into the playoffs - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- 'The water came up so fast': The heroes of Tonya Court and Wisconsin Street - Naples Daily News - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Wisconsin Republicans still fixated on 2020 election in 2022 - PBS Wisconsin - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : School Shutdowns ... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Fans Discover Ron Paul Delivered Late Pop Icon Selena - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Flashback: Ron Paul Railed Against the FBI in 1988 - NOQ Report - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Paul Sullivan: Chicago White Sox need to shake up their clubhouse culture by dealing 1 or more of their core players this offseason - The Killeen... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Tim Ryan Says Americans Need To Give Up Gas Cars as He Drives Around Ohio in Gas Guzzlers - Washington Free Beacon - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Pianist Paul Barnes and Native flutist Ron Warren to premiere piece Monday in Lincoln - Lincoln Journal Star - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- POLITICO Playbook PM: Mitch McConnell and the tale of two moderate Dems - POLITICO - POLITICO - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Cam'ron and A-Trak 'U Wasn't There' Review - slantmagazine - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- As the Economy Collapsed, Why Were Economists Silent? - The Epoch Times - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- CBDCs, SDRs, and the Re-Monetization of Gold Here's What Happens Next - International Man - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Lessons Learned: Ron Paul's Warnings Against the War on Terror Stand True - Libertarian Party - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- KRULL COLUMN: Maybe it's an oath they don't understand - Evening News and Tribune - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 9 Tips to Tackle Your Financial Goals and Still Have Fun - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 10 States With the Most Homes at Risk of Wildfire - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 5 Handy Keyboard Shortcuts That Make Internet Life Easier - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- What we know about Texas and Florida's transport of migrants - Axios - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 15 States With the Highest Union Participation Rates - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Winter is Coming But the 2022 Ram 1500 Isn't Worried - MotorBiscuit - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- '8 Simple Rules' Turns 20: 10 Big Names Who Appeared on the Sitcom - TV Insider - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Tech and finance moguls are putting money and weight behind Trump with a brain Ron DeSantis - Fortune - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What Is Peter Thiel Thinking? - The New Republic - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 7 of the Most Beautiful Places to Retire in America - Money Talks News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 3 Ways to Lower the Rising Risk of Electrical Fires - Money Talks News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Inflation Is State-Sponsored Terrorism - SchiffGold - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Quick hits: Pujols clouts 696th homer to tie for fourth all-time as Cardinals rally to win - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- It's no coincidence that the most successful democracies are constitutional monarchies - The Telegraph - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- "Distinguished," "loyal," "failure": Denver reflects on the retirement of Chief Paul Pazen and its hopes for new Chief... - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]