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Calif. Extends Moratorium on Executions

By Jeralyn, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Sat Jun 02, 2007 at 06:09:28 PM EST
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The federal judge in California who issued a ban on California executions until the lethal injection issues were fixed, has extended the moratorium.

California's 15-month-old moratorium on executions was extended at least until October on Friday to give a federal judge time to visit a planned new death chamber at San Quentin and consider an array of proposed changes in the state's lethal injection procedures.

At a hearing in San Jose, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel said he needs to see the rebuilt execution chamber before hearing arguments on the state's revisions in prison staff selection, training and infusion of the lethal chemicals.

Judge Fogel will visit San Quentin in October. After that, appeals are likely.

Here's why California needed a moratorium:

Fogel halted executions in the state in February 2006 when he blocked the lethal injection of Michael Morales of Stockton, convicted of raping and murdering 17-year-old Terri Winchell near Lodi in 1981. The judge said records of lethal injections at San Quentin over the previous decade revealed an unacceptable risk of a botched execution that would leave the prisoner conscious, paralyzed and in agony as he died.

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    Calif. Extends Moratorium on Executions | 2 comments (2 topical)

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    California criminals extend moratorium on murder (none / 0) (#1)
    by beefeater on Sat Jun 02, 2007 at 07:44:09 PM EST
    In a study conducted by some of the states leading inmates on death row there was found to be an unacceptable amount of suffering and pain associated with the current methods of "offing" someone. When reached for comment Charlie Manson replied "Just give me a few seconds alone with the Bugman, and I'll show you quick and painless." O.J. Simpson was on the golf course looking for the killers of his ex-wife and Ron, and was unavailable for comment.  

    Morality etc (none / 0) (#2)
    by HK on Sun Jun 03, 2007 at 04:02:27 AM EST
    It is good that California is taking this path.  If the issues are properly looked at, it will be seen that execution via lethal injection cannot be carried out efficiently without the assistance of trained medical professionals who are prevented from taking part by their own code of conduct.

    Most of the commenters here have enough of a grasp on the concept of morality to realise that we cannot shape the conduct of a criminal justice system according to the behaviour of those who are judged by it.  Thankfully, most of us are above that.

    Maybe someone who understands the way American politics and the legal system works better than I do can explain something to me.  Progress on the new execution chamber has been halted.  More funds are needed to complete it which must be sought from legislature.  If those funds are refused and the execution chamber can't be built, then the State cannot address the concerns of the judge and capital punishment will be effectively halted in that State indefinitely...is that right?  I'm not saying it is probable, I'm just asking if it is possible.

    Calif. Extends Moratorium on Executions | 2 comments (2 topical)

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