o the
Editor:
Re "Citing Issue of Fairness, Governor Clears Out Death Row
in Illinois" (front page, Jan. 12):
Gov. George Ryan's move to commute 167 death penalty cases
to life terms or less may have captured public attention
nationwide, but if it only creates resentment rather than
encouraging public debate about the fairness of the criminal
justice system, the basic moral question concerning the
appropriateness of the state's serving as executioner will
have been obscured.
The miscarriages of justice that led to Governor Ryan's
action were not isolated. A recent study at Columbia Law
School came to the same conclusion.
One hopes that legislators will revisit the death penalty
question, but given its current level of public support,
significant change is unlikely.
As a consequence, such sentences will continue to be
imposed, and only grievous examples of miscarriages of justice
will pique people's conscience. As a society, surely we can do
better.
CY SHAIN
San Francisco, Jan. 13, 2003
•
To the Editor:
Re "The Education of Governor Ryan" (editorial, Jan.
13):
As a resident of Illinois, I was shocked that Gov. George
Ryan commuted all death row sentences to life in prison or
less. This action was not a revelation but a politically
motivated act intended as a defense to the governor's possible
prosecution in a corruption scandal.
The ultimate wrong is that the system of administration of
the death penalty will probably not be reformed. But reform
needs to occur.
RICHARD GORLEWSKI
St. Charles, Ill., Jan. 13, 2003
•
To the Editor:
Given the bitter backlash that Gov. George Ryan probably
anticipated, his decision to commute the death sentences of
prisoners in Illinois shows commendable moral courage (front
page, Jan. 12).
Those who believe that taking life except in self-defense
or defense of another is wrong should be pleased with the
decision, and those who are displeased should find comfort in
the fact that life in prison may be a worse fate than
death.
MARY B. MAHOWALD
Palo Alto, Calif., Jan. 12, 2003
•
To the Editor:
Re "Citing Issue of Fairness, Governor Clears Out Death Row
in Illinois" (front page, Jan. 12):
Gov. George Ryan did not "undermine the system of criminal
justice," as suggested by the Cook County state's attorney.
The justice system was already seriously undermined.
How can the public trust a system that condemns innocent
people to die, determines sentences based on geography and
politics, represents the accused with incompetent lawyers, and
discriminates against the poor and people of color?
I hope that policy makers in the rest of the country
closely examine Governor Ryan's specific criticisms. Upon
examination of their own states, policy makers are likely to
find similarly problematic criminal justice systems.
They would be wise to start creating confidence in just
systems, rather than continuing to accept systems that are
unjust.
HEATHER SCHOENFELD
Chicago, Jan. 12, 2003
•
To the Editor:
Re "The Education of Governor Ryan" (editorial, Jan.
13):
The death penalty is about fairness; if you take a life,
your own is forfeit. What could be fairer than that?
MARY MCLEMORE
Autaugaville, Ala., Jan. 13,
2003
