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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Texas: Scheduled Execution Date Withdrawn for Joe Franco Garza

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The scheduled execution date for Joe Franco Garza has been withdrawn.

Garza was scheduled for execution on September 2. He was found guilty of the 1998 murder of Silbiano Rangel and sentenced to death.

There is an agreed order that said his execution would be stayed while more DNA testing is completed.

The Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney's Office and Garza's attorneys both agreed to this, according to court records.

The agreed order states that a number of pieces of evidence, including clothing, fingernails, and hair among others, be tested.

"It's not an admission by the DA's office that he's entitled to relief," David Guinn, a Lubbock criminal defense attorney, said. "It's a good thing for the court to do. As a matter of fact, it takes a smart judge with a lot of courage to stop an execution date, but in light of recent scientific revelations and material, why not be safe? Why not make sure?"

Guinn added, "If he's a bad guy he's not going anywhere, and if we get it wrong, well, thank goodness for justice."

"Several pieces of physical evidence are going to be evaluated by the lab. Both parties agreed to that as set forth in the order, and that the results of that testing will come back to Mr. Garza's attorneys, and the State of Texas," Guinn said. "And when they get that back, they'll look at it and decide what to do next."

Source: everythingnlubbokc.com, August 28, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com
Location: Lubbock, TX, USA
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