i live in illinois, a state that has put a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty. in part this was brought about by obscene prosecutorial conduct. it looks like this type of thing is more common than anyone should be comfortable with:
“Prosecutors know that death-qualifying a jury is a great way to help ensure a conviction. That, say experts, is one reason why many of them — particularly in jurisdictions with high death-penalty rates like Texas, Florida, Illinois, Virginia, California and Pennsylvania — deliberately overcharge in murder cases even where they know the death penalty is not appropriate or likely.
In other words, the process can lead to higher conviction rates — and most likely to more wrongful convictions — not just in capital cases, but in other murder cases, too.”
i wonder how the shrub feels about this.
[ via rc3 ]