Death and justice

Re “Court urges amendment to speed death penalty reviews,” Nov. 20

California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George’s proposed constitutional amendment, which would permit the court to transfer death penalty review to the state’s appeals courts, would further cement the inconsistency with which the death penalty is applied. In such a system as George proposes, the likelihood of an individual’s death sentence being upheld could clearly vary depending on his or her location in California. When making the irreversible decision between life and death, it would be a shame to introduce yet another level of arbitrariness.

Sam Weiner

San Francisco

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Your article about moves to speed up the state’s execution process should cause concern to all who believe in the fair administration of justice.

Interestingly, you also refer to federal appeals court Judge Arthur L. Alarcon’s call for a major infusion of cash to attract defense lawyers to handle difficult appeal cases, including those people too poor to engage lawyers.

It is no coincidence that 99% of prisoners on death row are indigent and are disproportionately people of color. More than 120 people who have been sentenced to death have subsequently been proved innocent. How many more innocent people may have been executed because they could not afford adequate defense counsel?

Where is the clamor to ensure fair and equal representation to the accused, and hence, a fair trial, rather than the focus on hastening the process of killing more prisoners?

Alice Mosley

San Francisco

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Re “In poor company,” editorial, Nov. 17

Justice does not equate to automatic compassion for convicts. Justice should be fair, swift and final for those convicted of the most heinous crimes. This means execution regardless of whether or not a measure of pain is experienced. The rest of the world is in pretty bad shape socially, economically, environmentally and, it appears, morally, so why take our cues from that?

Mike Bennett

Rowland Heights

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Your editorial was courageous to come out against a practice that is so popular with the American people. For many years, I have been saying the death sentence is barbaric and should be dispensed with. If this were done, and the prisoner is locked up for life without the possibility of parole, the cost would be considerably less.

Mary Overbey

Palos Verdes Estates