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State of Alabama might kill an innocent man, and it doesn't care

by JerryM | February 29, 2012 at 08:29 pm

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Death row inmate Thomas Arthur might be innocent, but it does not matter to the state of Alabama. They are going to kill him anyway. His defense is willing to pay for a DNA test to prove his innocence, after his conviction 30 years ago. So, there is no cost to the state of Alabama. This test of course did not exist when he was convicted, indeed, no DNA test existed at that time.

Of course, there are many people in prisons who were convicted before there were any DNA tests. Prosecutors and attorney generals don't like to be proven wrong. They want to win re-elections and showing that they are incomptent boobs tarnishes those chances.

So, Thomas Arthur, killer or not, we won't know for sure because the state of Alabama won't let us. The Supreme Court previously denied a right to an Alaska death row inmate for the state's evidence, for post-conviction DNA testing. I guess these kinds of decisions are what the rightwing mean by combating "judicial activism". So who does this kind of thing benefit? Not the public, if an innocent man is killed because the real killer remains. All it benefits are incompetents in power.

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charlie 3rd strike (not verified)

at 21:36 on February 29th, 2012

WTF has "right-wingers" got to do with this. Sue Bell Cobb, the 29th Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court IS A DEMOCRAT. It's the Alabama Supreme Court whose decisions are in question not your blanket accusation against "right-wingers". You turned a good, decent article by The Atlantic on the defense of Thomas Arthur into a total fail.

JerryM

at 07:44 on March 1st, 2012

Charlie, my point was referring to the rightwing when they call decision they don't like, "judicial activism". They would have called a decision ensuring right to post-conviction evidence, that term. Or, most of them. Those on the rightwing are strongly in favor of the death penalty. Those on the left, are strongly against the death penalty. Yes, there are exceptions. Now, are there exceptions? Yes, but as a whole those on the rightwing are less likeliy to care about this kind of story. I don't expect any conservative talk show to take up this story, and if they do, they probably will say this guy doesn't need to have the evidence tested, to see if he is really innocent.

Irony (not verified)

at 08:07 on March 1st, 2012

Great. We no longer need to judge people on their actions. We just need Jerry to tell us how he thinks they will respond then hate them in advance. Thanks Jerry, this will save a lot of time.

JerryM

at 12:57 on March 1st, 2012

Irony, yes, because I just woke up from a 100 year old coma from the surface of Mars and know absolutely nothing about conservative or liberal politics and philosophy. Don't insult my or any reader's intelligence.

Irony (not verified)

at 17:27 on March 1st, 2012

I wasnt insulting anyones intelligence, I was pointing out you were judging one group on actions they had not in fact commited, if you dont like that you shouldnt write it.