U.S. judge rules California death penalty system unconstitutional

Reuters ^ | July 16, 2014 | by Sharon Bernstein

[Oldeconomybuyer]

California's system for imposing and carrying out the death penalty is so long and drawn-out that it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and so is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.

Ruling in the case of Ernest Dewayne Jones, who was condemned to death in 1995 and has yet to be executed, Judge Cormac J. Carney of the U.S. District Court for the Central California said that to take "nearly a generation" to decide on Jones' appeals was unconstitutional.

As part of the ruling, Carney vacated the death penalty sentence in Jones' case.

"The dysfunctional administration of California's death penalty system has resulted, and will continue to result, in an inordinate and unpredictable period of delay," Carney wrote in his opinion, filed on Wednesday.

"Allowing this system to continue to threaten Mr. Jones with the slight possibility of death, almost a generation after he was first sentenced, violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment."

[morphing libertarian]

under 10 million per year

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with your comments. It’s very frustrating realizing justice is so seldom served for the victim’s families. They never get closure, but that isn’t cruel or unusual at all. /s

[uptoolate]

“The anticipation of death is worse than death itself - Mason Storm/Hard To Kill

Looks like the judge has watched too many movies.

[Cold Heat]

ooops......That probably means that Scott Peterson will rest easy....I don’t need to see the judges mail...

[MV=PY]

"I'm from Texas and in Texas we have the death penalty and we use it. That's right, if you come to Texas and kill somebody, we will kill you back. That's our policy. Right now there's a bill in the Texas legislature that would speed up the execution process of those convicted of a heinous crime with more than three credible witnesses. If more than three people saw you do what you did you don't sit on death row for 15 years Jack, you go straight to the front of the line. Other states are trying to abolish the death penalty. My state's puttin in an express lane."

Ron White

[Mark17]

Ruling in the case of Ernest Dewayne Jones, who was condemned to death in 1995 and has yet to be executed.

I spent a lot of time on death row. There are guys who have been there a lot longer than Jones. While I would like to see more of these guys executed, life on death row (is that an oxymoron?) is pure misery, so maybe there is a little justice in the world.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

One of my favorite comedians. Thanks!