Why the Death Penalty Must Be Abolished

The fear that an innocent person might be executed has long haunted jurors and lawyers and judges. And, in recent years, so many men have been exonerated from the nation's death rows that some states have been forced to place moratoriums on their capital punishment systems. Death penalty proponents have invariably seen such exonerations as evidence that the system is working, as a kind of insurance that no innocent individual will ever face death.

That argument no longer holds water. After an exhaustive investigation, David Grann (a reporter for The New Yorker)has reached the conclusion--supported by voluminous research--that Texas executed a man, Cameron Todd Willingham, on forensic evidence that was so poor that arson experts who reviewed it after Willingham's conviction (following a two-day trial)called it little more than folklore. No one, however, not even the governor of Texas was willing to grant Willingham a new trial or even a stay of execution. In fact, Grann's work reveals that none of those who could have righted the scales of justice for Willingham even bothered to read the evidence of his innocence.

If you haven't heard of this case, take a moment to read it at and say a little prayer that sooner rather than later, we will come to our senses and abolish capital punishment.