Intellectual Disability And The Supreme Court.

a reply to: intrptr

Lawyers who work on criminal appeals make very little money. Lawyers who work on death sentence appeals make very little money. A lot of these lawyers are working pro bono because they are fighting for the individual person for various reasons.

I'm not sure why we need to kill people at all, but shouldn't we at least take the time to make sure the person is guilty and none of his rights have been violated? The burden of proof in criminal cases is very high because the founding fathers believed that it was better to let 10 guilty men go free than to imprison one innocent man. What's the hurry?

Innocence Project

a reply to: TobyFlenderson

He did confess...

Sorry, I agree with your other sentiments, sometimes wrong people are prosecuted and all.

a reply to: intrptr

COnfessions ar e not always truthful though. all words from a persons mouth can be suspect to be a lie.

originally posted by: intrptr

originally posted by: yuppa

originally posted by: intrptr

originally posted by: yuppa
a reply to: intrptr

There is no such things as true justice in this world. there is only legal revenge.

Yah well, might as well let all the criminals go then...

No we shoudnt let them go. they are in jail because of legal revenge for their deeds. I wish we went back to wild west law and shooting of criminals who committed felonies.

Vigilante justice isn't hollywood, wild wild west. Its just short of anarchy. Fair trial by jury of ones peers (quick and speedy) so the people can't become vengeful is best.

That way the process is done fair and swiftly in open court, evidence tried, verdict reached, sentence carried out and everyone has to go home and respect the verdict and let it gooo.

Judges are supposed to oversee the process and not let BS into the process.

I agree, we don't have that anymore. Endless trial, like endless war and endless debt is the rule today.

They did have trials back then too. Most of the time. normally ones who were shot dead were In the act at the time of their deaths. And you would do well to had a witness with you as well. Of course it wasnt all marshall dillinger riding out and gunning down the bad guys in real life. They stilll abided by the law and arrested when they could.

a reply to: TobyFlenderson

It's not just about level of intellect but also emotion. A 7 year old can plan and execute a crime, but he does not have the emotional maturity to truly understand it.

Yes. I can agree on that. But he was not seven, and I am pretty sure that anyone who robs a store and kills the clerk is not emotionally mature, because they are lacking in the emotional department.

I'm pro-life and therefore find the death penalty anathema.

So you are Pro-Life in all scenarios? Are you pro-life when it comes to abortions?

It's just shocking to me that someone would feel so strongly about murdering a mentally retarded person that they would go to the effort of making a post about it.

Texas laws state that the man is not Intellectually disabled. Scotus seems think they are wrong. All mental retardation falls under Intellectually disabled, but all Intellectually disabled people are not mentally retarded. They are just dangerous.

Of all the problems we have in this society, is the ability of the state to murder a mentally retarded person really high on your priority list?

So the family of the murdered old man doesn't matter to you? I have reasons to doubt that he is mentally retarded. As far as the importance of this subject I believe you would find it important as you are Pro-Life. I am not following your placement of this topic as not important. It was important enough for you to respond.

If so, I think it's time for some introspection.

I introspect that you need it more so than I.
I know who I am.

a reply to: Zanti Misfit

Time for that Superior Cackling Old Hen to Retire . That sounds like Borderline Dementia .

I agree.

originally posted by: yuppa
a reply to: intrptr

There is no such things as true justice in this world. there is only legal revenge.

You may be very well right. I kind of agree.

a reply to: yuppa

I wish we went back to wild west law and shooting of criminals who commited felonies.

I am not sure we need to go that far, but I think you are on the right path.

originally posted by: TobyFlenderson
It's not just about level of intellect but also emotion. A 7 year old can plan and execute a crime, but he does not have the emotional maturity to truly understand it.

I'm pro-life and therefore find the death penalty anathema. It's just shocking to me that someone would feel so strongly about murdering a mentally retarded person that they would go to the effort of making a post about it. Of all the problems we have in this society, is the ability of the state to murder a mentally retarded person really high on your priority list? If so, I think it's time for some introspection.

" The old man in the booth leaned over to open a drawer in the booth. I started trying to push him back with the barrel of the shotgun. I was leaning over the counter of the booth and I suddenly fell backwards and the butt of the gun hit my arm and the gun went off. I didn't learn until later that the man had been shot. I seen it on T.V. The man must have been standing back up as I fell backwards and the gun went off. * * * I swear I was not trying to kill the old man and the whole thing was an accident. "


That Statement does not sound like your Label of a " mentally retarded person " . The Death Penalty is Not State Sponsored Murder , but Justice Imposed on Criminals who are Tried and Conficted for Heinous Acts against Society .

a reply to: Zanti Misfit

Well, the SCOTUS decided that he's mentally disabled. I guess you know more about it than them from one small quote you found on the web. Plus, I'm not sure what in that quote showed him to have an high IQ.

First degree murder is the taking of someone's life in a premeditated fashion with malice aforethought. To me, the death penalty is first degree murder done in the name of the people. I don't want anyone murdered in my name.

Also, from that quote you provided, it seems that it was a felony murder by accident. I don't get the need to murder this kid. Life in prison isn't going to be a ball for him, but at least his blood would not be on the citizen's of Texas' hands.

a reply to: TobyFlenderson

I don't get the need to murder this kid.

He is not a kid. This is an old case.

Life in prison isn't going to be a ball for him, but at least his blood would not be on the citizen's of Texas' hands.

No. Just the tax dollars to keep a murderer alive. The blood is on his own hands, he put himself in this position. The citizens of Texas didn't tell him to kill an old man.