Spring Break
Panel debates death penalty
Cameron Birch
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: News
Drexel's Earle Mack School of Law held a symposium to answer why does Pennsylvania still have the death penalty March 6.
A panel discussed various aspects of the death penalty in the state, ranging from a Pennsylvania Supreme Court study on the demographics and statistics of the sentence to political aspects and implications.
Jules Epstein, associate professor of law at Widener University, initially spoke at the symposium reviewing key elements to the Pennsylvania capital punishment law process. She said there are currently 228 inmates on death row in the state, with three executions and six exonerations since 1976.
Epstein also reviewed the mitigating and aggravating factors that a sentencing trial evaluates before placing convict on death row.
Lisette McCormick, who directs implementation of the recommendations of the 2003 Pennsylvania State Supreme Court review of the judicial system, discussed the study she and nine other lawyers and judges worked on to determined racial and ethnic bias, indigent defense in the juvenile system, and sentencing disparities in the courts.
"[The study brought the] resources of three branches of government together to address problems," McCormick said.
McCormick discussed the 68 percent nonwhite conviction rate to an overall 11 percent minority rate for the state of Pennsylvania.
Pa. State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, chair of the Judiciary Committee who has voted for upholding subjection to the death penalty, highlighted a need to reduce the possibility of convicting innocent people without interfering with the actions of law enforcement.
Bruce Castor, former Montgomery County District Attorney, addressed the symposium's audience as if they were a jury serving on a capital punishment trial during his closing arguments. Following his comments, Castor touted a 98 percent conviction rate and his record of prosecuting homicide cases.
The district attorney also addressed some of the racial undertones at the event, commenting that each of the executions since 1976 have been on white prisoners.
A panel discussed various aspects of the death penalty in the state, ranging from a Pennsylvania Supreme Court study on the demographics and statistics of the sentence to political aspects and implications.
Jules Epstein, associate professor of law at Widener University, initially spoke at the symposium reviewing key elements to the Pennsylvania capital punishment law process. She said there are currently 228 inmates on death row in the state, with three executions and six exonerations since 1976.
Epstein also reviewed the mitigating and aggravating factors that a sentencing trial evaluates before placing convict on death row.
Lisette McCormick, who directs implementation of the recommendations of the 2003 Pennsylvania State Supreme Court review of the judicial system, discussed the study she and nine other lawyers and judges worked on to determined racial and ethnic bias, indigent defense in the juvenile system, and sentencing disparities in the courts.
"[The study brought the] resources of three branches of government together to address problems," McCormick said.
McCormick discussed the 68 percent nonwhite conviction rate to an overall 11 percent minority rate for the state of Pennsylvania.
Pa. State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, chair of the Judiciary Committee who has voted for upholding subjection to the death penalty, highlighted a need to reduce the possibility of convicting innocent people without interfering with the actions of law enforcement.
Bruce Castor, former Montgomery County District Attorney, addressed the symposium's audience as if they were a jury serving on a capital punishment trial during his closing arguments. Following his comments, Castor touted a 98 percent conviction rate and his record of prosecuting homicide cases.
The district attorney also addressed some of the racial undertones at the event, commenting that each of the executions since 1976 have been on white prisoners.
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