The death penalty: Florida’s ‘gutter of shame’

From Tortoise reports

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the reinstatement of the death penalty in this country. Executions had been halted in the 1970s because major flaws in Florida’s administration of capital punishment were found to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. This anniversary is an appropriate time to assess whether the reforms instituted by the state of Florida 30 years ago have resulted in the fairness demanded by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1986, Florida’s former Gov. LeRoy Collins commented on the death penalty: “Who gets executed is still a freakish thing, and depends on wealth, power and many unusual circumstances. Most who are killed are poor and friendless. Citizens of Florida, I say the death penalty is Florida’s gutter of shame. We have more people in jails and prisons than all but a few states. These are signs of failure. They are calling for constructive action, not inhuman violence by state action to satisfy society’s revenge. Making tougher laws, executing more people, keeping more and more in jail for longer terms, may make Floridians feel better, but revengeful, violent acts by the states, never have, and never will, influence people to live by a higher moral code of conduct.”

In September 2006, an assessment team of the American Bar Association (ABA) released the results of its examination of the fairness of Florida’s current administration of the death penalty. The team found continuing flaws and recommended a total of eleven needed reforms. Their report noted that Florida has released 22 persons from death row because evidence established their innocence. This number of death row exonerations is far higher than any other U.S. state.

Instead of suspending all executions until these findings can be examined and addressed, Gov. Jeb Bush and former Attorney General Charlie Crist responded by issuing more death warrants resulting in the executions of Clarence Hill in September, and Arthur Rutherford and Danny Rolling in October.

Several organizations inviting citizens to participate in a public forum on Florida’s death penalty to be held Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Community of Faith Church, 1533 S. Monroe St. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Chapter of the NAACP and the Tallahassee Citizen’s Against the Death Penalty are sponsoring the event. Speakers include Gail Anderson, attorney for prisoners on death row; Dale Landry of the NAACP; Marty McClain, attorney for prisoners on death row; Michael Minerva, attorney and team member for the ABA’s Florida Assessment; and Larry Spalding with Florida ACLU. The moderator will be Sheila Meehan, co-chair of the Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty.