Replies to post #273012 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Rawnoc]

>> Finally, we should strive to eliminate all bias from the justice system, not just in capital punishment cases. Race, color, or financial status have no place in a system that claims to be "blind" to such things. I have no idea how to accomplish that goal in fact, though. <<

Impossible unless a computer is in charge.

Or if all aspects are shielded from the jury and lawyers are assigned rather than hired I guess would bring it closer but the facts of the case will always reveal potential biases which all human beings are subject to making decisions based on at least on some small part.

[Rawnoc]

Speaking of Justice is Blind....

Ben Affleck just stated that on the DVD version of Daredevil that my future brother-in-law decided to put on. Wierd coincidence.

[seabass]

>>>Biblically, capital punishment should be pursued only in cases where there is no real question as to guilt or innocence. Scripture says there must be at least 2 witnesses, and that would preclude capital punishment in cases based on circumstantial evidence.<<<


Makes a lot of sense and I wish it worked but human witnesses make mistakes too or malfunction under emotional stress. Especially those who have witnessed a murder of a family member, spouse or close friend. Some of them want closure and revenge at any cost.

Why is america the only western democracy still executing its citizens? I think it's because all the others have concluded that in order to kill one of your own you need to be 100% sure he/she is guilty and in too many cases you'll never get that guarantee even with witnesses or DNA.

It's still a young country. What do you think the odds are for the death penalty to survive another 10 years in america? My guess is less than 20%.



"The death penalty is the ultimate denial of civil liberties. In the past 30 years, 123 inmates were found to be innocent and released from death row."

http://www.aclu.org/capital/general/10521res20040409.html

(Just to clarify........this doesn't prove that the system works but begs the question how many innocents were executed before proven innocent.)