First Execution of 2012: The first execution of the new year is scheduled for 6pm tonight in Oklahoma. Gary Welch is on death row for stabbing a man to death in 1994. He has refused to apologize for the slaying. "Gary Welch had a 15-year history of violent crimes that included multiple assaults on women and police officers, burglary, stabbings and carrying concealed weapons before his conviction for murder... My thoughts are with Robert Hardcastle's family and what they have endured for the past 17 years," Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said. The article from Newson6.com and Wire Reports is here. Update: The execution was carried out as scheduled. Cary Aspinwall has this story in the Tulsa World.
Arpaio Asks Justice Department for Facts: Jacques Billeaud of the Associated Press reports Joe Arpaio has agreed to take part in discussions with federal officials about ways to correct the alleged civil rights violations in his sheriff's office. Arpaio said first the U.S. Justice Department needs to provide his office with facts to back up its allegations. One of the lawyers representing the sheriff's office, Joseph Popolizio, said in a letter to Justice Department officials that Arpaio was prepared to go to court if federal authorities did not provide the information to back up their claims. Arpaio's lawyers want the Justice Department to announce whether it will provide the information by January 18.
NY Governor Urges Mandatory DNA Samples: BREITBART reports New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he will propose a bill requiring the collection of DNA samples from any one convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Cuomo said numerous crimes currently excluded from mandatory DNA collection "are often precursors to violent offenses."
Texas Judge Removed From Death Penalty Case: The Associated Press reports District Judge Teresa Hawthorne Tuesday was removed from presiding over a death penalty case after ruling the Texas law allowing executions was unconstitutional. Administrative Judge John Ovard sided with Dallas County prosecutors and removed Hawthorne from the capital murder case of Roderick Harris, who is accused of fatally shooting two men during a robbery and then getting into a shootout with police. Last month Hawthorn ruled that the Texas death penalty was unconstitutional because it allowed prosecutors to arbitrarily seek the death penalty. According to the court transcript, Hawthorne acknowledged that all of the state's appeals courts have "consistently rejected" the reasons she provided for her ruling.
Arpaio Asks Justice Department for Facts: Jacques Billeaud of the Associated Press reports Joe Arpaio has agreed to take part in discussions with federal officials about ways to correct the alleged civil rights violations in his sheriff's office. Arpaio said first the U.S. Justice Department needs to provide his office with facts to back up its allegations. One of the lawyers representing the sheriff's office, Joseph Popolizio, said in a letter to Justice Department officials that Arpaio was prepared to go to court if federal authorities did not provide the information to back up their claims. Arpaio's lawyers want the Justice Department to announce whether it will provide the information by January 18.
NY Governor Urges Mandatory DNA Samples: BREITBART reports New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he will propose a bill requiring the collection of DNA samples from any one convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Cuomo said numerous crimes currently excluded from mandatory DNA collection "are often precursors to violent offenses."
Texas Judge Removed From Death Penalty Case: The Associated Press reports District Judge Teresa Hawthorne Tuesday was removed from presiding over a death penalty case after ruling the Texas law allowing executions was unconstitutional. Administrative Judge John Ovard sided with Dallas County prosecutors and removed Hawthorne from the capital murder case of Roderick Harris, who is accused of fatally shooting two men during a robbery and then getting into a shootout with police. Last month Hawthorn ruled that the Texas death penalty was unconstitutional because it allowed prosecutors to arbitrarily seek the death penalty. According to the court transcript, Hawthorne acknowledged that all of the state's appeals courts have "consistently rejected" the reasons she provided for her ruling.
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