Comments about ‘Senate panel OKs limiting death-row inmates' appeals’

It's about time!!

Good news? Not used to good news like this. It won't pass though.

What are you talking about Sen. Buttars? What do you mean there hasn't been an execution in Utah in 20 years? There's actually been 3 (in 1992, 1996, and 1999). Three executions in 20 years is not many, but I think we all agree that capital punishment should be a rare and most cautiously invoked sentence. There are currently only nine inmates in Utah prisons on death row.

I think this amendment needs to be considered and debated, but let's make sure the debate is based on accurate facts and sound decision-making, as opposed to misinformation or worse, deception.

too bad utah is constitutionally bound to accord criminal defendants due process. if buttars and his harem of morons would adequately fund criminal defense, and approve competent trial judges, and if bozos like mark shurtleff would get out of criminal prosecutions and let competent and ethical prosecutors take over, we might not be faced with endless appeals.

As far as I've seen in any constitution there is only one trial needed or required. After a trial a judge should not be allowed to overturn convictions so easily or allow unlimited appeals. Appeals are many times not justified and lawyers use it as a money maker to keep customers in the jails paying them. Justice by the constitution is required to be speedy and quick. That is the law for victims and the criminals. Lawyers keeping criminals in limbo for 20 years is an injustice to them as well as the victims. Sentences should be carried out within 6 months of conviction. In this constitutional change on appeals we should also include that trial evidence and how it is obtained be included. Most of all ban so called 'sting' evidence as not submitable as evidence. Stings do nothing but create a crime to entrape many otherwise honest citizens and marginal cases. In this ammendment we should also include that the practice of persecution be stopped.

As Mike Leavitt returns to Utah to be the anointed heir apparent to Bob Bennett's Senate seat, let's remember that Governor Leavitt appointed a string of very far left liberal judges, including court of appeals judges and supreme court justices, that have been hard core judicial activists in opposing the death penalty in all cases. The Utah Supreme Court fights the will of the people, fights justice and vigorously fights for milder punishments for the most brutal murders.

Though Senator Buttars has been derided for opposing certain judicial nominees, Chris Buttars is one of the few who has been a check on judicial appointments. Governor Huntsman has done far better than his predecessors. Nonetheless, the people of Utah will suffer for years because of the poor judicial choices that Governor Leavitt made on the basis of family connections and political expediency, at the expense of providing Utah with judges and justices that would obey the Constitution and impose the punishments prescribed by the people through the elected (not anointed or appointed) legislators.

What is wrong with protecting constitutional rights? A system of justice is only as good as the quality of the defense provided to defendants. Every legal scholar in this State agrees that this bill is unconstitutional, or at least, a very bad idea. All this will do (if it is not ruled unconstituional) is move cases to the federal system where they will be delayed even longer.

so one trail you would be fine with the innocent people that where wrongfully convicted and that have only been found innocent through the length appeals process (not criminals getting of but people actually found to have done nothing wrong) being executed so you can have your swift justice? Would you or will you feel the same way if or when it happens to you?

one thing you will learn quickly about Buttars is he rarely allows reality to get in his way.

If there are living witnesses to the crime, I say three strikes within 10 years then good bye.

Come on, people. The High-Fi killers sat on death row for 18 years and they were guilty as h***. They brutally killed and maimed several people, but due to the appeals process, they wasted tax payer dollars with their umpteen million appeals.

The process needs to be streamlined. Something needs to be done. I myself have never agreed with Sen. Buttars, until this issue.

nice simpleton thinking but you may want to actually read the research on the reliability of witnesses before you get to excited it my just be you strapped to that gurney falsely convicted someday.

Thank god for the people working for the Innocence Project. Through their efforts, many people have been proven innocent before their appeals ran out.

I know the "prolife" conservative position on the death penalty. Conservatives believe in the power of government, as being more valuable than mere justice. Conservative equate capital punishment with making a cheese omelet. You must break a few eggs, which means murder a few innocent people to have you chess omelet; the deterrence of the death penalty.

sorry that last comment should have been directed at jr

Why should tax payers be held financially responsible for the actions of criminals?

If a person knowingly performs an action (murder, drunk driving, etc) that causes the death to someone or brings harm to a child, they deserve to DIE!!! Not in a DECADE, Not in a few YEARS, not even in a few MONTHS.but within a few hours of conviction, DEAD.

If theres evidence that leaves absolutely NO DOUBT, or the defendant admits to the crime, then the Death Penalty should be carried out immediately.
NO LIFE IN PRISON sentencing either, thats just a politically correct way of saying I WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
If the defendant does not admit to the crime, then they should be granted one appeal and the Defense Team should be granted one year to present it to the court (Who pays for most Defense Attorneys? The tax payer).

Taxpayers spend Millions providing a sufficient life (food, clothing, beds, etc) for criminals.
The money saved, (cause bullets are cheap) could be used to provide assistance to the victims families, hiring more law enforcement and emergency responders and additional k-12 teachers to assist in keeping our children from becoming a defendant.