So, the outgoing Governor of Illinois, who departs office on Monday, has commuted the sentence of everyone on death row. All 156 of them. No judicial review. No input from the families of the victims who put the convicts on death row. Just decided that he was morally right and everyone else was wrong, and in one fell swoop decided to overturn everything. To hell with those pesky supreme court appeals. Let's have 1 man decide for everyone in his state what is morally right and just.
I wonder how this will look when a few of these guys get out and become repeat offenders. Yeah, they are supposed to be commuted to sentences of "life in prison without possibility of parole", but is that really the way it will be? I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea how this will play out. This just seems like an incredible decision to me. I guess Governor Ryan doesn't have to worry about it, though. His political career is done, brought down by a scandal, so what does he care. Notice he sent an "overnight letter" to each of the families of the victims. I guess he didn't have the balls to talk to them on the phone or, more appropriatly, look them in the eye while he told them of his decision.
Posted by Neal (Nukevet) at January 11, 2003 03:49 PM | TrackBackCan you say "fucktard?" Fucktard. There. I knew you could.
Why do governors have this kind of power? Seems to be out of line with what the judicial system does.
Posted by: Da Goddess on January 11, 2003 04:18 PMAmazing how one man can impose his particular view on an entire state, and say's it's OK, why? Because he's such a beacon of virtue, or because he's an arrogant ass with Caligula's ego? He retires and gets a big hug from the families of killers, what does he offer everyone else besides the finger? This kind of moral arrogance is so high, is there even a name for it?
Justice for this pygmy of a man would be to be hated and shunned the rest of his miserable life. Rot in Hell you retarded bastard.
Posted by: puggs on January 12, 2003 01:52 AMsounds like the makings of a new Irish Mafia clan, 156 soldiers strong all dedicated to Don Georgio of the Ryan family
Posted by: Madman on January 12, 2003 08:49 AMProbably 250 more innocents will die at the hand of released murderers. 45% of the California death row inmates had previous to the conviction that put them on death row been found guilty of another killing, served their time and got out to kill again.
Posted by: Gene 6-Pack on January 12, 2003 01:04 PM