What Punishment Should Scott Roeder Get for Murdering Dr Tiller?

As I watched CNN show the proceedings of the Roeder murder trial a few things came to my mind.

First, I noticed his attorneys, on each side of him, seemed to be facing away from him with considerable distance between them and their client. Who said attorneys have no conscience, only a checking account?

Second, his ex-wife is an excellent voice for family and reasonableness and against extremism

Third… gee, I’m spacing the most important part…..oh, yeah, he nor any person eligible to be tried by any domestic court, should never be sentenced to be killed for any reason.

Why?

1. We could always be wrong in our judgment, no matter how crazy that seems.

2. Morally, I do not think we should kill anyone if we have a choice in the matter. In war and defense we may not always have that choice no matter how hard we try to prevent collateral damage. In courts judging for violations of law, we have a choice.

3. Assuming I could ignore both number one and two above, I would say ok let’s do it per law but let’s do it in a timely manner. That means quickly, months, not years.

By number 3, do I mean to abridge rights of appeal? No. But I do say let’s do it quickly, decide quickly, process appeals quickly, prioritize death penalty cases (I know, everyone wants to be prioritized).

Why is that important?

First, decades of appeals etc add to the financial costs so that a life sentence is arguably more cost competitive.

Second, such oppressively drug out appeals are unnecessarily and truly traumatic on all of society, watching the appeals and wondering if the Governor is going to make a last minute reprieve. And such extended court, government and media circuses are costly.

Third, and maybe as important as any, these circuses lasting for decades must constitutes cruel and unusual punishment for the guilty in the name of justice and humanity.

Wrong. No justice or humanity can be attributed to the roller coaster of years of emotions.

Another case of unintended consequences to well intended intentions.