[Former Military Chick]

I say it is about damn time. I also say thank goodness someone is forcing the appeal process into the light. Send Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, a note appreciating his efforts.

Not only is this horrible for the victim's families the years can cause evidence to get lost, witnesses to disappear or worse die.

Twenty plus years on death row is just far to long.

This really gives me pause though:

The bill has encountered unexpected resistance, however, from the chief justices of the 50 states, who have voted unanimously to oppose it.

"We are concerned with speed and efficiency, but we're also concerned with fairness," said California Chief Justice Ronald George, a former death penalty prosecutor who has done much to expedite death penalty cases in the state court system.

[bigsigh]

I didn't see the numbers, but last I read there were 20-25 death penalty sentences per year in Cal and two executions every 4-5 years. That's why we have 640 on death row. A 235 year appela process is obsecene and immoral.

[BenLurkin]

There are two chairs in the gas chamber. San Quentin should be executing four people a day -- not in a year.

[GSlob]

Death penalty should be applied liberally. Very liberally.

[Navy Patriot]

Aww, I thought it was going to be four at one time.

[Don Carlos]

Pikers!

January 2001. Record 8 executions set this month in Oklahoma Shortened appeals process, long terms contribute to rate By Kelly Kurt, -- Associated Press News Service Tulsa, Oklahoma – Gary Gibson has officiated at Oklahoma executions more than 20 times. However, never has Mr. Gibson, the warden at the southern Oklahoma prison that houses the state's death chamber, faced a month like January, when seven men and one woman are scheduled to die. "It's a trying situation for everybody," he said. Reforms that have shortened the appeals process and the fact that five of the condemned inmates have been on death row for more than 11 years contribute to the surge. The twice-a-week executions have caused little stir among a public supportive of the death penalty that even Gov. Frank Keating, a Roman Catholic, once called the pope's stance against it wrong. Leading people to their deaths is never easy, and Mr. Gibson said he plans to watch his employees closely for signs of fatigue, anxiety, or profound stress from January's hectic pace.

[Redbob]

Good, good!

Things ARE improving in Californicate!

[JRios1968]

SACRAMENTO - California's capital punishment debate -- ignited by the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams -- will likely intensify as the state prepares to carry out death sentences at a pace unseen in more than a generation.

SNIP

In 2006, four inmates could enter the execution chamber, including the state's oldest death row resident, 75-year-old Clarence Ray Allen, according to the state attorney general's office.

Four in one year? That's a slow month in Texas, and way short of what needs to be done!

[goldstategop]

Fairness harrumph... when it takes 20 years to execute a murderer something is wrong. There's practically no penalty for murder. You can kill someone and drag things out long enough to either get a new trial, clemency or die of old age. We don't have the death penalty in California - we have the pretense of pretending to be tough on murderers even as more innocents die. This is justice? Not in my book.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Banjoguy]

2006, four inmates could enter the execution chamber

Not near enough........

[4woodenboats]

The constitutional case, known as "habeas corpus," goes to federal district court, then the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, before making its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. New cases may be filed as investigators continue to dig for new evidence.

Don't get your hopes up until the 9th circus is abolished