TheAgitator.com
Hank Skinner Scheduled for Execution Tomorrow
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010As noted, tonight I’ll be moderating a panel that will discuss the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, the Texas man executed in 2006 who critics say was innocent.
Coincidentally, unless the U.S. Supreme Court or Texas Gov. Rick Perry intervene, Texas will execute Henry “Hank” Skinner tomorrow. The Medill Innocence Project has raised serious questions about Skinner’s guilt. In Skinner’s case, there is untested crime scene DNA evidence that could either confirm his guilt, strongly suggest his innocence, or call his guilt enough into doubt to merit halting his execution. For eight years, prosecutors have refused to allow the evidence to be tested, and have to this point been backed by both Texas and federal appeals courts.
I wrote about Skinner’s case last month.
“We think a fallible justice system should not be in the business of extinguishing life.”
Nuff said.
This is just absolutely disgusting. Of the people, by the people, for the people – a statement fit only to uttered in tones drenched in sarcasm and anger, now.
The State (big capital ‘S’) is absolutely refusing to double check whether or not they are right in executing a citizen? I would say in capital cases ‘reasonable doubt’ should be carried to the furthest possible boundary, and if you have untested DNA evidence that alone should qualify, at least for a mandatory stay until the evidence CAN be tested.
If there is anything at all in this country that needs reforming, it is the “justice” system – every aspect. From the legislatures outlawing BREATHING in new jersey (the wording of the proposed legislature aimed at outlawing e-cigs / hand vaporizers actually bans breathing air too) to the law enforcement agencies getting fat and rich off of assaulting our rights and liberties to the judiciary who are so afraid of going against precedent that critical original thinking is about as common as it is on the average zero-tolerance school board…
What the fuck happened to our country?
Had to review the Skinner story. Sadly, I wasn’t sure which possibly innocent person Texas was about to execute this time. Sad to think that there is more than one. Positive it was Texas without even reading it though.
Texas: Not letting a little thing like reasonable doubt stop an execution since 1845.
We’ve got a legal system in this country, not a justice system. Any similarity between “legal” and “just,” is purely coincidental.
Reminds me of a line by Robert Duvall in the movie Geronimo:
“Texans…the lowest form of white man there is…”
Ironically, he was referring to scalp hunters..bloody trophies. Like an ignorant governor bragging on his ‘tough on crime’ record.
My apologies to the depressingly few good people of Texas who work against this type of tragedy.
Can we try to act civil and stop painting everyone in Texas with the same brush. It ain’t Massachusetts for chrissakes!
#7 I’m among the the rational minority in Texas. I don’t especially like the broad brush approach, but would point out that we have a collection of some of the most egregiously ignorant social conservative authoritarian nutjobs in the nation, and many of them hold public office.
There’s our State Board of
Dominioninst IndoctrinationEducation, that recently ripped Thomas Jefferson and The Age of Enlightenment from schools’ world history curriculum guidelines because such trivia would conflict with their notion that the founding fathers intended to create a Christian nation with little separation between church and state.There’s Gov. Goodhair, who was sure he had the authoritah to mandate expensive and insufficiently tested vaccinations for teenage girls, but until recently maintained that he did not have the authoritah to pardon a wrongfully convicted man who died in a Texas prison. I seriously doubt that this swaggering “tough on crime” hair head will give Skinner another 30 days to get the DNA testing done. Cuz, ya know, he’s up for re-election and all.
And then there’s the popular state senator who explained that the reason Mexican citizens were protesting the presence of the military in city streets was because the drug cartels paid them to do so.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Texas is largely not a place that welcomes critical thinking or logic. And it has a habit of electing ignorant arrogant authoritarian politicians.
I read a certain pro death penalty site every now and again and even some of them are fighting over this one. Usually they want to kill everyone.
With the fairly recent revelation about Todd Willingham’s innocence, after his execution, one would think it would behoove the state of Texas or ANY state that carries the death penalty to re-examine those who have been accused, convicted and set-to-execute.
There was also the case of Carlos DeLuna (Texas) that was discussed in the documentary called At Death House Door.
http://civilliberty.about.com/b/2009/09/05/cameron-todd-willingham-and-carlos-de-luna-two-innocent-men-executed-by-the-state-of-texas.htm
Here is another link from Death Penalty. Org that lists several people whose cases showed strong evidence of innocence but was ignored by Texas: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/executed-possibly-innocent
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ~ George Santayana
And my friends thought I was being obtuse when I made the argument that even in the US the state could kill you without any repercussion. Whats particularly sad is that the nations most zealous executioner, Texas, seems to have no concern over guilt or innocence. It’s scapegoating, someone commits a crime and someone, really anyone, must be punished. I think its mostly about catharsis and vengeance for the masses, which has nothing to do with punishing the right person, let alone meting out just punishment.
As former right-winger, I can tell you that there is more to the pro-capital punishment crowd than executions.
You see, if you are anti-death penalty, you are probably a liberal. Therefore, if you oppose capital punishment, you are collectivist stooge with the intent of destroying our civil liberties with environmentalism and political correctness. So obviously, any God fearing, capitalist loving American should be pro death penalty. Further, you can’t be anti-capital punishment and anit-collectivism at the same time.
At least in my observation, that’s the line of thought a lot of right-wingers have.
The message the State and the courts are sending is that if the citizens want something done, they need to do it themselves.
By that I mean jury nullification.
People are leaving some nice comments on governor hair’s facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/GovernorPerry
It’s not just about pro- or anti- death penalty. I’m in favor of it for people who commit mass murder and such. But I freaking expect a fair trial and actual certainty of guilt! These assholes that are in favor of capital punishment and refuse to look back at decided cases with new or unused evidence to see if it was the correct ruling or not really, really disgust me. They give capital punishment proponents a bad name, and more importantly…KILL innocent people!
There has been a stay granted by scotus.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25brfs-CONDEMNEDMAN_BRF.html
Yep, Hank Skinner got a stay. Nice.
G-ddamnit.
The above comment was in reference to Mr Skinner’s imminent execution, not the stay.