Good point.
As to the cost and time involved in implementing the death penalty, wouldn't another solution be to streamline the process?
In fact, though, I'm not a huge death penalty fan. But I certainly believe our society has a right to impose it if that's what the people, via their elected representatives, want.
But if the elected reps circumvent the will of the people, then the argument will of course be made in other states that the death penalty is being applied capriciously...IOW, all things being equal..the same crime that gets you killed in Texas does not get you executed in Cal..