Publications & Testimony

Following an investigation indicating that Missouri may have executed an innocent man for the 1980 murder of Quintin Moss, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote that the case was filled with problems that are typical of wrongful convictions in capital cases. Herbert stated that St. Louis circuit attorney Jennifer Joyce has taken “the extraordinary step of officially reopening a murder investigation after the defendant was executed,” adding that it is difficult to prove that an innocent…

A year-long investigation by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund has uncovered evidence that Larry Griffin may have been innocent of the crime for which he was executed by the state of Missouri on June 21, 1995. Griffin maintained his innocence until his death, and investigators say his case is the strongest demonstration yet of an execution of an innocent man. The report notes that a man injured in the same drive-by shooting that claimed the life of Quintin Moss says Griffin was not…

The U.S. Supreme Court granted a last minute stay for Robin Lovitt, who was scheduled for execution at 9 PM on Monday (July 11) in Virginia. The Court did not give a reason for the stay, but Lovitt stated that he would have been able to show his innocence if state officials had not destroyed DNA evidence from his case after his trial. (See item below posted July 8). (Associated Press, July 11, 2005). See also Innocence.

A bill proposed by Rep. Daniel Lungren of California and Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona would strip the federal courts of much of their power to decide whether death row inmates have been given a fair trial and could result in the execution of innocent defendants. The bill is entitled the Streamlined Procedures Act of 2005. The Washington Post editorialized about the measure: Stop This Bill Sunday, July 10, 2005; Page B06 CONGRESS HAS a novel response to the rash of prisoners over the past few years…

Robin Lovitt is scheduled for execution on July 11 in Virginia despite doubts about his guilt and the state’s weak and circumstantial case against him. Lovitt’s attorneys maintain that DNA testing of evidence in his case would prove that he is not guilty of the 1998 murder of Clayton Dicks, but the tests are not possible because a court clerk mistakenly destroyed the evidence. Columnist Margaret Edds of the The Virginian-Pilot recently wrote about the upcoming execution and the doubts that…

A number of states are grappling with the question of whether the lethal injection drug Pavulon, also known as pancuronium bromide, paralyzes a condemned inmate’s muscles in a way that masks horrific pain felt during an execution, a side-effect that experts say could violate of the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments about this issue in a death row case in June 2005 and a similar case is expected to reach the Kentucky Supreme Court…

Retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s evolving skepticism about capital punishment has played a significant role in a number of key decisions regarding the death penalty throughout her 24 years on the U.S. Supreme Court. During public appearances in recent years, she has often mentioned her concerns about innocence and the need to protect a capital defendant’s constitutional right to adequate representation. In a 2001 speech she stated, “Serious questions are being raised about whether the…

By a vote of 5 – 4, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s grant of relief to Tennessee death row inmate Gregory Thompson. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit had announced that its initial denial of Thompson’s appeal was mistaken. After first denying Thompson’s habeas corpus petition, the Sixth Circuit discovered previously unconsidered evidence that Thompson was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the offense. The court reconsidered the case in light of the evidence…

Murdering Myths: The Story Behind the Death Penalty, a new book by Judith W. Kay, uses the personal experiences of both crime victims’ families and those on death row to examine America’s beliefs about crime and punishment. Noting that researchers have raised questions about the execution of innocent people, racial bias in sentencing, and capital punishment’s failure to act as a deterrent, Kay asks why Americans still support the death penalty. She uses interviews with those most closely…

Texas Governor Rick Perry has announced the appointment of the members of the state’s new Criminal Justice Advisory Council, including three judges, two prominent state legislators, a defense attorney, a prosecutor, and 13 additional ex-officio members. The commission will study potential flaws and recommend changes to the state’s justice system. This is the first group in many years to have broad-ranging authority to look at the Texas criminal justice system from arrest to final appeal. Among…