Pubdate: Sun, 17 Aug 2003
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2003 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Authors: Mary Wray
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0272.html

HARSH JUSTICE PUTS LIVES IN THE BALANCE  (1 of 3)

To the Editor:

In "Justice Kennedy Speaks Out" (editorial, Aug. 12), we read that Justice 
Anthony Kennedy believes in sentencing guidelines in principle but that the 
inflexible minimum sentences required by some laws are not necessary or 
wise. Why, then, did he cast the deciding vote upholding California's 
"three strikes" law?

In "U.S. Judge Sees Growing Signs That Innocent Are Executed" (news 
article, Aug. 12), we read that Mark L. Wolf, a federal judge, saw mounting 
evidence that innocent people were being executed, but he declined to rule 
the death penalty unconstitutional.

Why don't the votes of a Supreme Court justice and a federal judge in 
Boston reflect their thinking?

MARY WRAY
Grafton, Mass.,
Aug, 13, 2003
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart