Venting Against DP: Brooklyn federal district judge Frederick Block said yesterday that the people of New York are against the death penalty, except for cop killers, and that the U.S. Attorney ought to stop seeking it. The judge's remarks before an American Bar event are reported in this story by Ross Goldberg in the New York Sun. The story suggests that Judge Block, who has editorialized against capital punishment in the New York Times, may not actually speak for all New Yorkers. A key problem with the federal death penalty law is that when a jury hangs by a single vote, the murderer automatically gets a life sentence, while some states allow another sentencing hearing with a new jury. The result: it's fairly easy to block a death sentence in Judge Block's court.

Murder has become a political problem in San Francisco. A column by C.W. Nevius in today's SF Chronicle reports that this fall's election of at least four new county supervisors may be influenced by the fact that the city has suffered near record homicide rates over the past four years. There have been 61 homicides in San Francisco since January. The pesky murder problem could also effect Mayor Gavin Newsom's bid for Governor in 2010. Nevius speculates that SF Police Chief Heather Fong may retire after the fall election. Fortunately for local murderers, District Attorney Kamala Harris is not on the ballot.