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Wednesday, January 26, 2005 |
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Hiatus Somehow, it doesn't seem like more than 4 months since I last posted to the blog. It really isn't due to lack of interest. And it certainly isn't due to lack of content. Connecticut has been the epicenter of a death penalty maelstrom (sorry for that mixed metaphor) in recent months. Convicted mass-murderer Michael Ross, long-time inhabitant of Connecticut's death row, has asked that no further appeals be made of his convictions and death sentence. Questions have been raised about his competency, but at each turn state and federal courts had rejected any motion in that regard. That is until Judge Robert Chatigny, sitting in the United States District Court in Hartford, imposed an indefinite stay of Ross's execution until a full hearing can be had in his courtroom about the competency issue. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld the stay. It was reported on tonight's local news that Connecticut's Chief State's Attorney had filed papers in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking its intervention. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Michael Ross lives. If all goes well, Michael Ross will continue to live until he lives his natural life. The lines have been drawn here in the compassionate Nutmeg State and, if letters to the editor of the conservative newspapers are any indication, emotions are getting stretched. It shoudn't be a surprise to any one who might read this blog that I don't think Connecticut should be in the killing business. I understand fully the emotions of those who seek death: vengeance and vindication are always understandable. But it solves nothing as a society other than expediency: That is, we have this problem with a guy who killed people, so we must kill him. It's efficient. In theory, it eradicates a known problem and limits the expense required to deal with it. In theory, it is a deterrent to others; yet it never is. But Michael Ross lives one more day. And that is already one day more than he was scheduled to live. 7:48:48 PM  comment []
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