URGE YOUR CONGRESSPERSON
TO CO-SPONSOR JESSE JACKSON JR.HR 3623"ACCURACY IN
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
ACT OF 2000." WHICH CALLS FOR A SEVEN YEAR MORATORIUM
NATIONALLY ON ALL U.S.
EXECUTIONS, UNTIL ALL INMATES CURRENTLY SITTING ON
DEATH ROW EXPLORE POTENTIAL
EXCULPATORY D.N.A. AND SIMILAR EVIDENCE. REPRESTATIVES CHAKA FATTAH
(D-PA), JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL), GREGORY MEEKS (D-NY), BILL CLAY (D-MO),
TOM BARRETT (D-WI), AND DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (D-DC),
JOINED CONGRESSMAN JACKSON
AS ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS OF HR3623.
THE BILL IS CURRENTLY IN THE HANDS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TO HOLD HEARINGS. YOU CAN HELP TAKE ACTION NOW.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
WRITE AND URGE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON HENRY HYDE (R-IL) AND
RANKING MEMBER JOHN COYERS
(D-NI) TO HOLD HEARINGS ON HR 3623. ASK YOUR MEMBER TO PRESS THEM TO DO
SO ALSO.
THE HOUSE
CALL: HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: (202)225-3951,OR FAX:(202)225-7682
OR WRITE:
JUDICIARY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STANDING COMMITTEES:
CONGRESSPERSONS (NAME)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515-0001
OR VIA INTERNET: http://www.house.gov
THE SENATE
URGE YOUR SENATORS TO
SUPPORT THE "INNOCENCE PROTECTION ACT" SR 2073.THIS
BILL, INTRODUCED BY SENATOR
LEAHY (D-VT) WILL FIX SOME OF THE FLAWS IN THE
DEATH PENALTY (ALTHOUGH
IT WILL NOT WORK TO ABOLISH EXECUTIONS; THE BILL IS
MORE LIKE A BAND-AID
FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT). A MUCH MORE REASONABLE DILL
WAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED
BY SENATOR FEINGOLD, ALONG WITH SENATOR LEVIN.
"THE NATIONAL DEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM ACT OF 2000" S.2463.THIS BILL WOULD
IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND EXECUTIONS
AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS WHILE A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION
REVIEWS ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. BEFORE ONE MORE EXECUTION
IS CARRIED OUT, THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT IN EACH STATE THAT IMPOSES CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THE SENTENCE OF DEATH IS CONSISTANT
WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, EQUALITY
AND DUE PROCESS. THE COMMISSION WILL REVIEW ALL DEATH PENALTY CASES PENDING
AND HOW CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS BEING APPLIED.THE BILL CALLS FOR A TWO YEAR
MORATORIUM EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT OF THE BILL AND ENDS ONLY AFTER CONGRESS
CONSIDERS THE COMMISSIONS FINAL REPORT, ENACTS OR REJECTS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS,
AND REPEALS THE SUPENSION OF EXECUTIONS PROVISION OF THE BILL.
URGE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE CHAIR ORIN HATCH (R-UT) TO HOLD HEARINGS ON
SR 2073, AND S.2463.
URGE SENATOR FIENGOLD TO KEEP PUSHING FOR THE PASSING
OF S.2463 SENATOR FIENGOLD
RECENTLY ADRESSED THE PRESIDENT SAYING
" MR.PRESIDENT IF A PATICULAR
AIRCRAFT CRASHED ONE OUT OF EVERY FIGHT FLIGHTS, CONGRESS WOULD ACT IMMEDIATELY
TO GROUND IT. BUT AS NEW YORK PUBLIC DEFENDER KEVlN DOYLE SAYS IN THE BOOK,
ACTUAL INNOCENCE, THAT IS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW WITH THE DEATH PENALTY
IN THIS COUNTRY. SINCE THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE MODERN DEATH PENALTY, 87
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM DEATH ROW BECAUSE THEY WERE LATER PROVEN INNOCENT.
THAT'S A DEMONSTRATED ERROR RATE OF 1 INNOCENT PERSON FOR EVERY 7 PERSONS
EXECUTED. WHEN THE CONSEQUENCES ARE LIFE AND DEATH, WE NEED TO DEMAND THE
SAME STANDARD FOR OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AS WE DO FOR OUR AIRLINES.
PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE !
Dear Friend,
Enclosed are letters which can be used to mail in to relevant legislators in support of federal legislation (SR 2073 "Innocence Protection Act") and (HR 3623 "Accuracy in Judicial Administration Act of 2000).* All of these legislative items are seriously needed, and while the House bill only seeks a "moratorium," it at least would gain time, during which other efforts to abolish the Death Penalty might be undertaken in order to turn the tide of public opinion, which has been moving back in the direction of "against" the death penalty.
If you prefer to write your own letters, by all means do so, but if you're short on time, but still want to them know your support for the legislation, and urge them to support and hold hearings on it, you can use these if you care to.
The only thing that is required of you to utilize these letters are envelopes and postage, and identifying the names and mailing addresses for your local federal Senators and Congressional Representative. Basically that is only 3 names and addresses. The letters to the Senate and House Judiciary Committee members are already fully addressed on the letter itself.
If you read the information in the newsletter, you will see that both these items of proposed legislation are totally vital and required to address longstanding deficiencies in the system of criminal justice. They will not cure every problem, by a long shot, nor altogether eliminate the possibility that innocent persons will not be convicted, but it will add some simple and long needed safegaurds to offset the liklihood of erroneous convictions in cases where certain type of evidence would be dispositive.
The Senate measure also provides a remarkable feature of raising the quality level of legal representation and legal services in capital cases. If you know anything about the system, you know this is due and it's been a long time coming. Let's make sure it doesn't take any longer than it already has.
And don't forget, the letter for mailing to your local House of Representative is suppose to go to your (area) District Representative, which may or may not be handy, but if you make a few inquiries you can probably find out who that is without too much trouble, then get the address from any phone book, or other convenient source.
If you know others who would be interested in supporting this legislation, by all means let them know how they can do so, and urge them to do so soon.
Thanks a lot,
Charles
V. Thompson
Texas Death Row
Click on each link below
| Letter to Senator |
| Letter to Henry Hyde |
| Letter to Orrin Hatch |
| Letter to Representative |
| Letter to the President |
