Posted on 03/01/2006 3:36:37 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Anyone curious about the motives of the federal judge who has temporarily put the brakes on executions in California should know this: Jeremy Fogel comes with plenty of personal biases.
He leans decidedly toward the San Francisco Giants.
He would probably rule in favor of the jazz stylings of pianist Keith Jarrett.
And he's partial to the steam-poached salmon with Dijon beurre blanc when dining at Maddalena's in Palo Alto.
His true feelings about the death penalty, however, are not up for discussion.
``My feeling is that it's constitutional,'' Fogel said this week in an interview with the Mercury News. ``Until the Supreme Court says otherwise, it's the law, and my job is to enforce the law.''
After eight years on the U.S. District Court in San Jose, Fogel, a 56-year-old appointed by President Clinton, finds himself dead-center in one of the nation's most divisive and emotionally charged debates. When the state was unable to comply with his conditions for administering drugs to end the life of condemned killer Michael Morales last week, Fogel effectively shut down California's death chamber.
To help determine whether the death-by-injection method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, he has ordered California's first-ever hearing on the process, putting it at the forefront of states re-evaluating how they carry out such executions -- and infuriating the family of the teenager Morales beat to death with a claw hammer.
``I think it's ridiculous what this judge has done,'' said Terri Winchell's brother, Brian Chalk. ``No one in his right mind would put Morales' chance of feeling 1 percent of the pain ahead of what my sister went through. . . . The problem with our country is that judges keep changing the law.''
Fogel bristles at the criticism.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
We know that democrats run on feelings, the constitution be damned. Why oh why dont some criminals murder some judges families if they must murder at all? Oh wait, we had that in Chicago last year if I recall and guess what? The entire federal govt was put on alert in order to catch and convict the miscreant. Yes, all animals are equal in this judges eyes, but some are more equal too.
The judge is right - but only about one thing - they should be insuring htat is is a long slow and painful death.
Not only should this butt wirpe be killed but the rule of law should read - death by kiling in a manner likened to the crime - so in his case she whould be put in a cage with his hand bound and fee tied and beat to deaths with claw hammers leaving no doubt that he would be dead. Teh final moments of his life should be full of pain and horror and he should scream all the way to hell.
But then I like red meat and pork ribs so what do I know.
I don't know anything about his views on the DP, because he only sat on the civil calendars for many years.
Right. And most natural deaths are far from painless.
I appreciate that you responded to my question. I had just heard in recent news bites that he disagrees with the DP. No surprise in many regards but it would be nice if the guy were fair and impartial. imho
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