There are 118 capital cases in Maricopa county. Thomas would dedicate 5 judges to a panel exclusively to hear these cases. Somehow that doesn't sound like a good use of judicial resources to me.
"Thomas wants to rein in defense attorneys' ability to interview witnesses or probe some issues after the death sentence."
Because thorough review before the state murders its citizens in cold blood isn't justified?
Maybe instead of rushing death penalty cases, we should take some care to address them more slowly and with more care. Re-trying them after the United States Supreme Court sends them back because they weren't constitutionally handled the first time (Ring vs. Arizona) would appear to insert more delay than the speed gained by rushing them through the first time.
Eight people from Arizona's death row have been exonerated since the 1970s, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, by way of the Arizona Republic article. Now that sounds like a good use of judicial resources.
We have real problems in the state of Arizona. We are rated dumbest state in the country, and sure the study and metrics were flawed, but they also weren't, in that we know it's true: education here isn't what it should be. We have an overwhelmed healthcare system, particularly emergency healthcare. We have fatal vehicle accidents so often they're commonplace, a way of life. Which is more important, fixing the problems that affect many people, that claim the lives of some of the best of us? Or rushing to kill the worst of us?
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