Posted on 02/17/2015 1:02:47 PM PST by jazusamo
Attorney General Eric Holder called Tuesday for a national moratorium on the death penalty until the Supreme Court weighs in on the issue later this year.
“Our system of justice is the best in the world. It is comprised of men and women who do the best they can, get it right more often than not, substantially more right than wrong. But there's always the possibility that mistakes will be made,” he said.
“It is one thing to put somebody in jail for an extended period of time, have some new test that you can do and determine that person was, in fact, innocent. There is no ability to correct a mistake where somebody has, in fact, been executed. And that is from my perspective the ultimate nightmare.”
Holder went on to say he disagrees with Justice Antonin Scalia, who has said the U.S. has never executed an innocent person.
“It’s inevitable,” he said during a luncheon at the National Press Club.
Late last month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal the from death row inmates in Oklahoma who are challenging the state’s procedures for lethal injections.
"I think a moratorium until the Supreme Court makes that decision would be appropriate," Holder said.
They case follows the execution of Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett, 38, who died of a heart attack after receiving the first part of the three-drug cocktail.
According to media reports, he writhed in pain and clenched his teeth before ultimately succumbing to cardiac failure. Lockett was convicted of shooting a 19-year-old woman in 1999 and watching as accomplices buried her alive.
President Obama called the botched execution “deeply troubling” and ordered a federal review of the country’s use of the death penalty, including state protocols for administering capital punishment.
Holder said the review is still underway.
“I don’t think it will be completed during my time as attorney general,” he said.
The Justice Department previously said Holder hoped to complete the review before he left office.
That sicko Clayton Lockett got exactly what he deserved for shooting and burying that poor woman alive.
Holder can take a flying leap off his ego , social justice pole.
“According to media reports, he writhed in pain and clenched his teeth before ultimately succumbing to cardiac failure. Lockett was convicted of shooting a 19-year-old woman in 1999 and watching as accomplices buried her alive. “
Not sure I see the problem.
No problem at all!
Personally I am against the death penalty. That being said...
Holder is an ass. The guy who has done nothing but complain about how terrible this nation is, how racist whitey is, and refuses to uphold the laws of the nation is now saying, “Our system of justice is the best in the world.”
Eff Yoo, Holdup....
Lockett was NOT a botched execution. It was more of a self-inflicted suicide than execution.
Hours before Lockett was scheduled, he himself opened a vein in a vain (get it? Vein/vain. lol I’m so funny!) attempt to stall the execution.
His added suffering (again - self inflicted) was BONUS!
He quit.
He should no longer be given a pulpit from which to spew his bullsh1t.
Agree, this particular execution was actually a little more justice than planned.
Okay. Then move all death row inmates to his house and he and his family can take care of ‘em.
” “According to media reports, he writhed in pain and clenched his teeth before ultimately succumbing to cardiac failure.”
Sounds good to me!
I couldn’t agree more, he should keep his racist trap shut.
Holder must be worried about the possible sentence for treason.
Start by a moratorium on the execution of innocent unborn children.
I forgot, death penalty is on their list of evil things whitey does. Guess they will do away with it by 2016 at this rate?
Agree. Wondering why he doesn’t shut his trap. Hope he’s not warming up for an election campaign.
Well I call for Holder to go intercourse himself.
How about we forget the nice clean medical process and go back to firing squad?
“Attorney General Eric Holder called Tuesday for a national moratorium on the death penalty until the Supreme Court weighs in on the issue later this year.”
Of course he did. Does he feel that same way about illegal immigration? I mean we should hold off on it until the Supreme Court weighs in?
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