A capital decision, death penalty opponents agree
The reading from the Book of Sirach this Sunday speaks of humanity needing to choose between “life and death, good and evil.” Jay Inslee, governor of the State of Washington, announced Tuesday that he will not permit . . .
The reading from the Book of Sirach this Sunday speaks of humanity needing to choose between “life and death, good and evil.” Jay Inslee, governor of the State of Washington, announced Tuesday that he will not permit death by execution in Washington while he remains in office, despite the fact that it is legal in his state.
Citing “problems that exist in our capital punishment system,” Inslee, a Democrat, said he would issue a reprieve in any death-penalty case that crossed his desk, though he would not let any death-row prisoners go free. A future governor could reverse this action, he noted, and order an execution to be carried out.
The move makes Washington the latest in a series of states to step away from capital punishment and Inslee the third Democratic governor in recent years to do something similar. Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon announced in 2011 that he would not permit any executions on his watch, and last year Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado issued an indefinite reprieve in the only death-penalty case during his tenure.
The death penalty is legal in a majority of states, although 18 states have outlawed it, including six which have done so in the last six years. For governors who oppose the death penalty, refusing to order executions may be an easier way to make a point than to try to reverse a law.
“There are too many flaws in the system,” Inslee said on Tuesday. He noted that since the state’s current capital punishment laws were enacted in 1981, more than half of the 32 death sentences imposed in Washington had been overturned. “And when the ultimate decision is death, there is too much at stake to accept an imperfect system.” He added, “With my action today, I expect Washington State will join a growing national conversation about capital punishment.”
Homily hint: One of the critical weaknesses of capital punishment, critics argue, is that it leaves no margin for human error—and it is manifestly evident that humans are prone to err. There are many ways that justice can be served, but the “ultimate penalty” should be reserved for the better judgment of a much higher authority than fallible humans.
Citing “problems that exist in our capital punishment system,” Inslee, a Democrat, said he would issue a reprieve in any death-penalty case that crossed his desk, though he would not let any death-row prisoners go free. A future governor could reverse this action, he noted, and order an execution to be carried out.
The move makes Washington the latest in a series of states to step away from capital punishment and Inslee the third Democratic governor in recent years to do something similar. Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon announced in 2011 that he would not permit any executions on his watch, and last year Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado issued an indefinite reprieve in the only death-penalty case during his tenure.
The death penalty is legal in a majority of states, although 18 states have outlawed it, including six which have done so in the last six years. For governors who oppose the death penalty, refusing to order executions may be an easier way to make a point than to try to reverse a law.
“There are too many flaws in the system,” Inslee said on Tuesday. He noted that since the state’s current capital punishment laws were enacted in 1981, more than half of the 32 death sentences imposed in Washington had been overturned. “And when the ultimate decision is death, there is too much at stake to accept an imperfect system.” He added, “With my action today, I expect Washington State will join a growing national conversation about capital punishment.”
Homily hint: One of the critical weaknesses of capital punishment, critics argue, is that it leaves no margin for human error—and it is manifestly evident that humans are prone to err. There are many ways that justice can be served, but the “ultimate penalty” should be reserved for the better judgment of a much higher authority than fallible humans.
Source: An article by Ian Lovett for the New York Times