Letter from Prosecutors, Law Enforcement Officers, and Justice Department Officials to Congress
Dear Members of Congress,
The undersigned individuals are current and former prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and Justice Department officials who have served at the state and federal levels. Some of us support capital punishment and others of us oppose it. But we are united in our support for the federal Innocence Protection Act.
Capital cases present unique challenges to our judicial system. The stakes are higher than in other criminal trials and the legal issues are often more complex. When the government seeks a death sentence, it must afford the defendant every procedural safeguard to assure the reliability of the fact-finding process. As prosecutors, we feel a special obligation to ensure that the capital punishment system is fair and accurate.
The Innocence Protection Act seeks to improve the administration of justice by ensuring the availability of post-conviction DNA testing in appropriate cases, and would establish standards for the appointment of capital defense attorneys. The interests of prosecutors are served if defendants have access to evidence that may establish innocence, even after conviction, and if they are represented by competent lawyers.
For these reasons, we are pleased to endorse the Innocence Protection Act. Please feel free to contact any of us to discuss this matter.
| Mr. William Aronwald Former Asst. District Attorney New York County Former Asst. US Attorney and Chief, Criminal Division Eastern District New York Former Attorney-in-Charge, Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force Southern District New York Mr. Francis X. Bellotti Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mr. William M. Bennett Hampden County, MA Mr. Matthew Bettenhausen Mr. William G. Broaddus, Esq. Mr. David B. Bukey Mr. Robert Bundy Mr. Arnold I. Burns Mr. Zachary Carter Mr. J. William Codinha Mr. W.J. Michael Cody Hon. W. Thomas Dillard Mr. Tyrone C. Fahner Mr. Lee Fisher Mr. Howard W. Goldstein Mr. Timothy M. Gunning Mr. Terence Hallinan Mr. Scott Harshbarger Hon. Phillip Heymann Mr. Charles Hynes Ms. Gaynelle Griffin Jones Mr. Thomas R. Kane Hon. Gerald Kogan Mr. William J. Kunkle, Jr. Mr. Jim E. Lavine Hon. Robert S. Litt |
Mr. Jeremy Margolis Former Director Illinois State Police Former Asst. US Attorney Mr. Ralph C. Martin, II Hon. Jim Mattox Mr. E. Michael McCann Ms. Randi McGinn Mr. Thomas K. McQueen Mr. Robert M. Morgenthau Mr. William L. Murphy Hon. Irvin Nathan Mr. Charles M. Oberly, III Ms. Phyllis J. Perko Ms. Katrina Pfaumer Mr. Ernie Preate Hon. Dom Rizzi Hon. Laurie Robinson Hon. Jon Schmidt Hon. William S. Sessions Mr. Alan Silber Mr. Charles B. Sklarsky Mr. Neal R. Sonnett Mr. Thomas J. Spota Mr. Harry Tervalon, Jr Hon. Harold R. Tyler, Jr. Mr. Keith Uhl Ms. Beth A. Wilkinson |
