During his recent State of the Union address before Congress, President George W. Bush raised concerns about race, wrongful convictions, and adequate representation for those facing the death penalty:
Because one of the main sources of our national unity is our belief
in equal justice, we need to make sure Americans of all races and
backgrounds have confidence in the system that provides justice.
In America we must make doubly sure no person is held to account
for a crime he or she did not commit — so we are dramatically
expanding the use of DNA evidence to prevent wrongful conviction.
Soon I will send to Congress a proposal to fund special training
for defense counsel in capital cases, because people on trial for
their lives must have competent lawyers by their side.
(Washington Post, February 3, 2005). See also DPIC’s Summary of the Justice For All Act, a more comprehensive approach to the same problems passed into law in 2004. See also, Innocence.
