After 7:00 PM on Tuesday, convicted killer and death row inmate Warren Hill received a stay of his execution. Hill had been sedated and was within less than one hour from being executed. Hill is a mentally retarded man who has a IQ of 70. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded. Three experts including psychiatrist and psychologists who examined Hill have stated he is mildly mentally retarded. The victim’s family is opposed to executing Hill. All of this begs the question of why is Hill being considered for execution. Hill was serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend when he got into a fight with a fellow inmate and killed him. It is for the killing of the inmate that Hill received a death sentence. Hill was set to be executed at the same prison that Troy Davis was executed in 2011. Compared to the international outcry against the execution of Troy Davis, there has not been the same outcry in support of Hill. Former … [Read more...] about The Death Penalty Must be Put to Death
Archives for February 2013
Black History Month Revisited: Race in America
As a part of President’s Day Weekend and midway through the month that we designate as Black History month, I had an opportunity to attend an event titled “Race in America and Where Are We Now?” in Washington, DC at the Jewish Community Center on Saturday, February 16. I attended a panel discussion that was a part of the series with top thought leaders and writers on America’s oldest and most divisive issue. Panelists on the Saturday panel included NPR’s host of “Tell Me More” Michel Martin, moderator, former RNC Chair, Michael Steele, The Root’s White House Correspondent, Jenee Desmond-Harris, CNN’s Maria Cardona, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center. While the panel and audience discussed some of the many ways that America has advanced in our not so post racial society, there is still much more work to do. Looking at the Freedom Riders exhibits on display at the event and hearing remarks from the audience showed the extent to which we’ve come. Leaving … [Read more...] about Black History Month Revisited: Race in America
Will An Act of God Delay the George Zimmerman Hearing?
George Zimmerman, accused in the murder of Trayvon Martin a year ago, is seeking a postponement of his hearing on his Stand Your Ground defense known as a self defense immunity hearing set in April. If Zimmerman prevails at his hearing on immunity, he would not face a trial. Previously, the defense attorney, Mark O’Mara requested a delay of the trial scheduled for June 10 which Judge Debra Nelson denied. Now, if at first you don’t succeed, try again approach has the defense requesting a postponement of the Stand Your Ground hearing. The judge has indicted that she would be willing to move the hearing to the same day as the start of the trial—which is not out of the ordinary. But she seems to indicate that it would take almost an act of God for her to otherwise delay the hearing. Judge Nelson stated it “would take extreme circumstances for her to grant a continuance for the self-defense immunity hearing.” Mark O’Mara will have another bite at the apple to argue for a continuance of … [Read more...] about Will An Act of God Delay the George Zimmerman Hearing?
We May Never Find All the Missing Pieces of the Chris Dorner Puzzle
The final piece of the Chris Dorner puzzle ended with the identification of his body through dental records, as the person who died in the fire set by the Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) police. The other pieces of the puzzle may never be found or known. We may never know if his allegations against the LAPD prove true or false. Although the Los Angeles Police Department reopened his case file concerning his allegations, it is not an independent review of the investigation. So no doubt, the end result will be the same. It’s like the wolf guarding the hen house to see if it is safe. Nothing good will come of it. And who can trust the Los Angeles Police when it comes to the case of Chris Dorner? Regardless of the crimes that Dorner is alleged to have committed, killing 4 persons, including two officers and injuring three others, the LAPD had a duty to act as upstanding law enforcement officers and not revengeful gang members. But the LAPD went on a little shooting spree … [Read more...] about We May Never Find All the Missing Pieces of the Chris Dorner Puzzle
LegalSpeaks on the State of the Union Address
President Obama in his State of the Union address had something for everyone, women, minorities, middle class and everyone in between. For women, President Obama called on the House of Representatives to take up and pass the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) that cleared the Senate earlier on Tuesday. "We know our economy is stronger when our wives, mothers, and daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence," he said. "Today, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act that Joe Biden originally wrote almost 20 years ago. I urge the House to do the same.” The Violence Against Women Act provides grants to state and local authorities for legal assistance, transitional housing, law enforcement training, stalker databases and domestic violence hotlines. The Senate bill extends the act for five years and provides $659 million for VAWA programs, down 17 percent from the last reauthorization in 2005. A sticky … [Read more...] about LegalSpeaks on the State of the Union Address
Even Chris Dorner has Constitutional Rights
Christopher Dorner's case presents a troubling account of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (“LAPD”) search for Dorner. Christopher Dorner, age 33, retired military and former police officer is alleged to have killed three persons in revenge retaliation of his dismissal from the police force for lying about a fellow officer he accused of excessive force towards a mentally ill suspect. Dorner vowed to seek revenge by “killing officers and their families.” He is suspected in the killings of three persons, including one police officer. As of Monday, February 11, 2013, Christopher Dorner was charged in the killing of one police officer and the attempted murder of 3 others. Since last week, the LAPD has been on a rampage of their own, in attempting to locate Dorner. It is no doubt that the police are on edge while Dorner is running rogue and rampant allegedly killing police. However, the LAPD has proven they intend to use deadly force, shoot first and ask questions later—if there is … [Read more...] about Even Chris Dorner has Constitutional Rights