To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 14:35:52 -0400
Subject: [WSFA] Good news in Maryland?
From: ronkean at juno.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

On Mon, 13 May 2002 08:08:30 -0400 "Strong, Lee" <StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL>
writes:

> ... Most of the studies alleging
> problems with the administration of justice are political statements
> based on faulty assumptions about "proper" rates of executions.  I am
> therefore skeptical that Gov. Glendening is acting in the interests of
justice
> versus the interests of his political party.
>

It has since come to my attention that Kathleen Kennedy Townsend,
Glendening's annointed successor, will be making the death penalty one of
her campaign issues.  That could help explain Glendening's action.  My
father mentioned that he had written a letter to the governor several
years ago suggesting he should do something about the injustice of death
penalty administration.  The response at that time was that he was not
inclined to take any action on the death penalty.

Of course a governor has the power to commute sentences and grant
pardons, so a sitting governor could effectively negate enforcement of
any criminal law, or the application of any type of criminal punishment,
during his or her term.  Spear Lancaster, the Libertarian candidate for
governor, has already said that if elected he would use the pardon power,
at least on a case by case basis, for non-violent drug offenders.

Ron Kean

.

________________________________________________________________