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California High Court Denies Tookie Williams Latest Appeal

By Jeralyn, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Sun Dec 11, 2005 at 11:19:26 PM EST
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The California Supreme Court has denied Stanley "Tookie" Williams latest request for relief which was filed Saturday morning.

Without a grant of clemency by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, he will be put to death late tonight (12:01 am Tuesday.)

Memo to Arnold: Clemency is about mercy. It is an act of grace. You have the opportunity to stop a needless killing. Tookie's execution will not bring the victims back. It will not heal. The welfare of the people of California is best served by the message clemency would send -- one of hope to the tens of thousands of disadvantaged young people your administration has professed to care so deeply about. A denial of clemency will send a message of despair.

You hold a human life in your hand. We've seen enough killing. Please choose life for Tookie.

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    California High Court Denies Tookie Williams Latest Appeal | 28 comments (28 topical)
    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#1)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:53 PM EST
    We've seen enough killing.
    As anyone who's watched Commando knows, there's never enough killing when Ahnold's involved.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Arnold will not likely stay Williams as that would contradict the law of the land. Its not the best move a politician can make.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#3)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    We've seen enough killing
    As a whole, Americans never tire of killing as long as its one of "them".

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    'You hold a human life in your hand. ' Whose? The four people that Williams murdered in cold blood? The thousands killed by the Crips?

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    I'll be really surprised if Ahnold grants clemency. Let's hope that I am.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Jack, are you saying our society is no better than the Crips? That murder serves society? No. There is only one rationale left for the death penalty - revenge - and that is what the entire criminal justice system was created to prevent.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#7)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    'You hold a human life in your hand. ' Whose? The four people that Williams murdered in cold blood? The thousands killed by the Crips?
    Empirical analysis will reveal that there are exactly zero cases of a murder victim being brought back to life as a result of the killer's execution. If you're talking about retribution, wow, it's reassuring to see that there really haven't been too many changes in human nature over the past couple thousand years.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#8)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    "Pearyb": Executive clemency does not "contradict the law of the land." It is part of the process, just like a fair trial, a round of appeals, and a post-conviction collateral review and/or federal habeas corpus petition. If those court reviews are complete and do not afford the prisoner relief, the executive authority (the Governor for convictions in state court, or the President for federal convictions) has discretion to extend mercy (clemency) in the form of a reprieve (short delay to allow further review or a new court appeal), pardon (complete release, usually on grounds of innocence), or (most often) commutation -- changing the terms of the sentence. This executive discretion is absolute and unreviewable. All of these forms of clemency exist in recognition of the fact that our system is not and cannot be perfect; it requires a safety valve, even at the end. In this case, Williams' attorneys are asking for a commutation of the sentence from death to life without parole. The Governor has unquestioned legal authority to do this, and LWOP is a lawful sentence in an aggravated murder case. In certain ways it can be seen as a harsher and more painful punishment than death. There is nothing unlawful or lawless about the process which is now underway.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    People know the law but they still feel inclined to murder the innocent. After they commit their acts of violence why should they be redeemed because they wrote a book? It is a little to late. Mr. Williams should be put to death since he took the lives of several families loved ones. Shame on all of these "Stars" that fight to save a cold blooded murder. Let it happen to your family and see if you change your mind!!

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#10)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Roxie, It has, and I haven't. The death penalty needs to be abolished...

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#11)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Schwarzenegger wouldn't just let the execution happen without speaking to the clemency appeal, would he? That would be a chickens**t thing to do.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#12)
    by Slado on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Quaker, Agreed. Surely he's not building up for a last minute call from the govenor. I'm worried that the Governator has acted in and seen to many movies. Tookies not a nice guy but letting him hang on the vine till the last minute seems a little ridiculous. What can happen in 12 hours that he doesn't already know. All appeals have been exhausted. Before the death machine gets cranked up just spit it out already.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#13)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Ingorance and hate do no justice to either side of the argument. BTW, Crypts are where you bury dead people Crips are the criminal street gang founded by Stanley.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    The chickenator is hoping someone else will step in so he doesn't have to make the choice Chickenator's got no morals so the decision is entirely political and like the true coward he is --waiting for someone else to take him off the hotseat

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#15)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Let it happen to your family and see if you change your mind!!
    I'm sure Jesus would agree.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#16)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Someone wrote:
    Let it happen to your family and see if you change your mind!!
    To which scar replied: [Posted by scarshapedstar at December 12, 2005 10:39 AM]
    "I'm sure Jesus would agree."
    Tsk, tsk....I think that's called deflection.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#17)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:54 PM EST
    Kitt, I think Scar was alluding to "turn the other cheek", not deflecting. Merry Christmas!

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#18)
    by Slado on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Seriously it's a little cruel to have mister Tookie sit around and hope that he will get clemency. At least give the murdering scum a chance to get ready for his maker. I'd like to know 12 hours before I was going to die that I was going to die rather then sit around and wait for the Govenator to pull the trigger. If Arnie waits any longer he's going to look bad either way.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#19)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Happy Hanukkah. How so? 'To turn the other cheek' does not mean or even allude to being a doormat. It's often misinterpreted, far too often. It's about forcing your 'opponent' or the one doing the striking to strike the other cheek, back-handed style. Thus placing the strikee on the same par as the striker. Something not typically accorded especially in those times when Jesus Christ is said to have lived & taught.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#20)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Oops...posted rather than previewed. To recoup - being struck back-handedly is to be pronounced as a subordinate or inferior. It's about forcing your 'opponent' or the one doing the striking to strike the other cheek, open-handed style rather than back-handed style. THIS then places the striker in a precarious position - strike open-handedly which then places the subordinate on equal footing or....let it go, which still presents a bit of a quandry. I saw this over on Netsape: "Williams' supporters also made another pitch directly to the governor Sunday to spare his life, telling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a letter that they had a new witness who could help prove Williams' innocence." All of a sudden we have a new witness and not only a new witness but one who can prove Mr. Williams' innocence. What was the likelihood of that happening. I'm not a fan of Mr. Williams. I've heard interviews with him on Democracy Now, Radical Radio, etc. I think he has a problem with personal responsibility.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#21)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Where did 'doormat' come from?

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#22)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Expect an announcement soon, California just notified all law enforcement agencies

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#23)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:55 PM EST
    Clemency denied.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#24)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:56 PM EST
    edger: It's a metaphor. It's to help illustrate a point made above in a previous post.
    Where did 'doormat' come from?
    You didn't answer my question above. I'm curious; I don't want to make fun - just trying to see your point there.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#25)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:56 PM EST
    Kitt, I responded to your post in which you opined that Scar saying "I'm sure Jesus would agree." as his reponse to "Let it happen to your family and see if you change your mind!!", was deflection. What I meant was that I don't think his intention was deflection, that's all. I read his comment as wry mild sarcasm - a couched questioning of an attitude that seemed to be saying 'principle depends on circumstance'. No?

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#26)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:56 PM EST
    BTW Kitt, Merry Hanukkah... and Happy Christmas. And happy holidays... etc. etc.... All my best wishes for a very good season for you and yours! :-)

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#27)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:56 PM EST
    What I meant was that I don't think his intention was deflection, that's all. I read his comment as wry mild sarcasm - a couched questioning of an attitude that seemed to be saying 'principle depends on circumstance'.
    Okay....just clarifying. Heading out to look at Christmas lights with my 9-year-old nephew. Merry Christmas, edger.

    Re: California High Court Denies Tookie Williams L (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:57 PM EST
    Christmas lights with my 9-year-old nephew. Sounds like fun :) Have a good evening!

    California High Court Denies Tookie Williams Latest Appeal | 28 comments (28 topical)