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Utah AG Continues Push to Limit Appeals in Capital Cases

By Steve Hall

"Passing the gavel; Let judges handle death row appeals," is the title of a Salt Lake Tribune editorial that appeared on August 19.  Here's an extended excerpt: Frustrated that Utah inmates are growing old on death row while filing appeals for post-conviction relief, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and other death penalty supporters will press their case for allowing voters to amend the state constitution to allow the Legislature to limit the issues on which convictions and sentences in capital cases can be appealed. That would be a mistake. Adjudicating criminal cases is a judicial, not a legislative, responsibility. It's an idea that's already been defeated. Last year, the House rebuffed a resolution that would have asked the electorate to transfer the power to limit appeals from the courts to the Legislature...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on August 28, 2009 (boomark / email).