Should we get rid of freedom too simply because the evil exploit it? Dumping the appeals process because evil uses it to their advantage it is like dumping the second amendment because bad people use guns. That’s liberal logic. Freedom is not free and one of the consequences is that bad people will use it against the good. If you are willing to throw it away, what else are you willing to give up in the name of convenience?
The appeals process is about protecting the potentially innocent from overzealous, or down right corrupt, prosecution. Does your morality allow for innocents to suffer so you can “get the bad guy”? What happened in that case is truly awful and horrific but creating more victims hardly serves her memory. Evil often gains the upper hand in a free society and that is the price we pay for such a luxury.
I would move to the Texas form of appeals process, victims survivors deserve justice, just as much as criminals deserve to appeal, but it should not take 20 yrs to get that justice.
Who protects the victims Survivors? It sure isn't the justice system.
Most states don't even have Victims Rights, most that do have only Statutory ones that are as worthless as a Restraining order. TN has Constitutional Victims Rights, thanks to the survivors of murdered Loved Ones. We also have the right to video/audio tape a Victims Impact Statement for Parole hearings. Which the survivor has to travel to the prison the inmate is housed. Many cannot afford to or are infirm. We have to pay taxes to house them, try them and to travel to those parole hearings. I had to travel from Memphis to the far end of TN Johnson City 11 hrs for them, that came out of our pockets and paychecks for taking time off work. We have no say when they are scheduled. Many times you get less than a month's notice of one.
Yes I am the parent of a MURDERED CHILD, Sociopath wanted so see what it felt like to KILL. My child was 16, with the development both physical and mental of a 12 year old. I got a lousy plea bargain, 1st down to 2nd with a median sentence that ranged from 10-30 yrs, he got 20 yrs, and 6 parole hearings. Took 2 yrs to get to the plea deal, liberal prosecutor. First one was just ten MONTHS after the bad plea deal in which I was not consulted. The prosecutor RAN every time he saw me coming toward him. I was not allowed a Victims Impact Statement.
But I sure learned a lot. "Your honor, my client is not in your court room today, he's down the hall in another judges court room on another criminal offense." Bail was not revoked, new date set for 1 month later.
My Jeremy lies in a cold grave, his killer walks free to kill again! You cannot fix a sociopath no more than you can a child RAPIST!