Death Sentence overturned because the jury used the Bible

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/29/bible.deliberations.ap/index.html

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Ruling that juries cannot turn to the Bible for advice during deliberations, a divided Colorado Supreme Court threw out the death penalty for a convicted murderer because jurors discussed Bible verses.

Harlan was sentenced to death in 1995, but defense lawyers learned that five jurors had looked up such Bible verses as "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," copied them and discussed them while deliberating behind closed doors.

Defense attorney Kathleen Lord, arguing before the state Supreme Court last month, said the jurors had gone outside the law. "They went to the Bible to find out God's position on capital punishment," she said.

[bertha katzenengel]

1. GOOD!

I'll bet Free Republic is just imploding over this. Wish I had the stomach to go over there and watch. :popcorn:

[tekriter]

5. I'll sacrifice myself and go over there...

I'll let you know.

[bertha katzenengel]

8. don't let them impale you

:yourock:

[tekriter]

13. they are not happy...

but only two comments so far!

"We really MUST find a way to reign in these stupid idiot judges. I bet they would not have done this if it had been people turning to the Koran."

That's the best one so far

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Oooooo linky linky linky. (Yes, I have morbid tastes)

[bertha katzenengel]

17. "reign in these stupid idiot judges" -- turn off Rush, freepers

He is poisoning your mind with hatred and bigotry.

Think for yourselves.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Am I an evil person if I feel good from reading that?

:bounce:

[Walt Starr]

3. To be clear, the jury referring to the bible wasn't the big issue

The jury referring to the Bible after the prosecutor told them they had to was.

[bryant69]

4. That's a little goofy.

I guess the argument is that they were using the bible to force others to their point of view? But boy is that story written to ensure that Conservative Christians (or any Christians for that matter) will get a little riled up.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[AValdoux]

6. The Issue?

Most of the stories I read have missed the point. It's not that they quoted the bible, it was copying passages and bringing them into the jury room. They were told they couldn't bring the Bible (the book)into the jury room. So why did they think copies of passages were ok? Copying the passages and bring them instead says they knew the bible (the book) wasn't physically allowed. It's ok to discuss your beliefs just don't bring in the Bible (the book) itself.

AValdoux

[mondo joe]

7. That's sick! When I was on jury duty we did it the old fashioned way -

cutting open a live chicken and reading the signs from the gods in its steaming entrails.

[iconoclastNYC]

9. 'Culture of life' crazies are going to freak over this.

[kedrys]

10. Well, it's about time

Harlan deserves to be locked up and the key thrown away, but the separation of church and state clearly dictates that judgement should not be based on religion.

As to the whole moral thing, why is it that religion always thinks it has the corner on "morality"? It's just another form of control. Zealots who advocate killing their enemies (usually people who disagree with them on issues that are sometimes more political than religious) are immoral as heck, IMHO.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[kweerwolf]

11. Good Morning America had a segment on about this today

They interviewed the juror who brought the Bible verses. She said she did it because another juror who identified himself as a Christian said he couldn't square the death penalty with his Christian beliefs. (That begs the question why attorneys didn't excuse him from jury duty in a death penalty case!)

The woman who was interviewed on GMA said she brought the "eye for an eye" verses in as a way of demonstrating to the reluctant Christian juror that God is OK with the death penalty.

[Dragonfli]

18. The "Redacted" Version Of That Biblical Gem?

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, ‘Do not resist injuries ("evil" in KJV), but whoever strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other as well’" (Matt. 5:38-29 Modern Language Version).

That's Right, I forgot, What Jesus said means very little to these people just a little edit and this verse gives the "proper" Message

[tanyev]

19. Un-freakin-believable.

I just saw this story on ABC evening news and I am outraged. I did not realize until now that the "eye for an eye" passage had been used. As the previous poster correctly points out, Jesus completely negates the Old Testament passage in Matt. 5:38-42. If you go by those verses, the jury should have released the man and given him some new clothes. THIS IS WHY YOU FOLLOW THE LAW, NOT RELIGIOUS TEXTS!!!!

And I would like to state that I am a Christian and I hope some well-known ministers start weighing in on this pronto. Gov. Owens was interviewed for the piece and said that the ruling was "demeaning to people of faith and prevents justice from being served." Uh, no. The ruling by the Supreme Court was 100% correct. We should allow any idiot to walk in and pull a few selected words out of a religious text to justify their decision in a death penalty case? Surely Gov. Owens is smart enough to see the can of worms that opens. I think I am more angry that he is disagreeing with the court on this.

[BurtWorm]

12. Get ready for a lot more gas, America.

And I don't mean the kind Hummers run on.

:eyes:

[FreedomAngel82]

14. I don't know how much more of this I can take

I'm so frustrated and fed up! Springer is making a good point on his show. He's saying how we're slowly heading to the state like a theocracy but only not call it that way. (he's doing great now) :banghead:

[signmike]

15. (the) Lord has spoken . . . haha

I understand when the Hell's Angels have a wedding they swear on a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle repair manual, and read a passage from it. Always made sense to me -- I doubt there is much contradiction in that book. I know if I was promising to tell the truth, my hand resting on ANY book wouldn't make any difference - and particularly that damned bible. If I had to use a book to keep me honest, the 1904 Frank Atkinson's "Sign Painting Up To Now" has my respect. Or anything by Mark Twain. . .

But so does the plain truth.