The Word from the Mountain Top -- Attorney General Decides When to Seek the Ultimate Penalty
Lawyers Say Ashcroft's Death Penalty Edict Could Backfire. Forcing United States attorneys to seek the death penalty could result in unwanted ripple effects, such as more frequent acquittals, some lawyers say. By Benjamin Weiser. [New York Times: National]
Whatever one's view about the death penalty, the new Ashcroft approach to national uniformity in seeking the penalty leaves many scratching their heads. One thing is certain, not all jurisdictions have a similar view about the ultimate penalty. As a result, the use of Washington's heavy hand in forcing the U.S. Attorney's Offices to seek the death penalty in cases where they would otherwise not do so, is likely to give juries more opportunities to "just say no" to Attorney General Ashcroft.
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