US Advocacy Group Expects ‘Fair’ Ruling in California Death Penalty Appeal

Witness to Innocence Executive Director Magdaleno Rose-Avila claims that California’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will listen to all arguments in the recent ruling against the death penalty and will judge fairly.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — California’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will listen to all arguments in the recent ruling against the death penalty and will judge fairly, Witness to Innocence Executive Director Magdaleno Rose-Avila told Sputnik.

“I think the judges are going to be fair…There is some preponderance of evidence that shows us that the most open and understanding of the constitution have been those most recently appointed by Clinton and Obama,” Rose-Avila said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, The Los Angeles Times reported that three judges Susan Graber, Johnnie Rawlinson and Paul Watford will be hearing next week an appeal of US District Judge Cormac Carney ruling that California’s death penalty law is unconstitutional.

Carney argued that California’s death penalty system was plagued by delays and uncertainty violating the US constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Rose-Avila noted that capital punishment is ineffective and has been exploited as a political tool.

“It’s been a political tool that is used to help district attorneys and other politicians who say they are tough on crime,” he said.

People who threaten lives of others should be incarcerated not killed, Rose-Avila stressed.

Witness to Innocence is an advocacy group helping exonerated death row survivors to make their voices heard in the debate over the death penalty.