Yesterday the Fairness subcommittee of the Tennessee Committee to Study the Administration of the Death Penalty met for over three hours as they discussed the problems with defense representation in capital cases in Tennessee. The American Bar Association Report on Fairness and Accuracy of Tennessee’s Death Penalty System released in 2007 states that “Tennessee’s statutory qualification requirements for capital defense attorneys fall far short of the requirements of the ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases and are insufficient to ensure qualified counsel for every death-sentenced inmate.”

Given this reality, the Fairness Committee is seeking to find a way to ensure that defendants are given adequate representation when faced with a capital charge, particularly if they are indigent. To that end, the Committee heard testimony concerning the creation of an independent authority in Tennessee to oversee capital defense representation from Ty Hunter. Hunter is the executive director of a similar authority in North Carolina called the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (NCIDS), created by the NC legislature in 2000.

When asked what North Carolina’s motivation was in creating such an authority, Hunter responded that the first motivation was the lack of effective management of the state’s resources for indigent defense. Previously in North Carolina, (and currently in Tennessee) the system was very fragmented making fiscal accountability difficult. The second motivation was a very real concern about the quality of representation that poor people were receiving in court. Both motivations are also big concerns in Tennessee’s current system.

Additionally, such an independent authority could provide Tennessee’s system with an organizational structure for easier accountability, ensure qualification standards for defense attorneys working on capital cases, monitor defense services, and provide training for attorneys. The advantage that Tennessee has over North Carolina is our state’s public defender system which would work in conjunction with this independent authority. This authority would allow public defenders more flexibility in dealing with capital cases and would help to relieve public defender caseloads while ensuring that indigent defendants were appointed competent counsel.

A sentiment which was repeated again and again yesterday in the subcommittee, made up of both prosecutors and defense attorneys, was that lawyers on both sides of any case want to try cases with other attorneys who are competent. It serves neither side to have an incompetent attorney involved because of the amount of time the trial ultimately will take as well as the numerous appeals that will certainly be forthcoming if a client does not receive good representation. Another important point is that with good defense representation, defendants are more likely to have confidence in their attorneys making them more likely to take pleas, sparing victims’ family members the pain of a trial while saving taxpayers lots of money.

The creation of an independent body to oversee capital case defense in Tennessee seems like an idea that anyone concerned about fairness would welcome. Other states, such as North Carolina, have experienced great results with such an authority. I hope as this subcommittee becomes clearer about what might be best for Tennessee, that lawmakers will pass legislation that moves Tennessee in the right direction. Though we at TCASK wish to see a system where no one would ever face a death sentence, until we arrive at abolition, we must support any steps which make the system more fair.

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Yesterday in a surprise move, District Attorney Paul Phillips stated that if Paul House’s DNA is not found on a hair discovered in Carolyn Muncey’s hand following her murder, he will consider dropping the charges against House. If the DNA from the hair or other evidence belongs to a third party, Phillips says he will not prosecute.

In an interview with a Knoxville news station, Joyce House asks the million dollar question, “If the state has had this hair all along, why hasn’t it been tested before now?” The state has been sitting on evidence for 23 years that could have exonerated House, and yet, it has done nothing, except fight tooth and nail to keep any evidence which casts doubt on the conviction out of the courts.

Sadly, in this case as in many other death rows cases, the emphasis seems to be on getting and maintaining a conviction, even if an innocent person is convicted. Where is the justice in such a system?

I hope that the Tennessee Committee to Study the Administration of the Death Penalty does a thorough examination of the Paul House case and how such a travesty could have occurred. This case highlights the reasons why such a Committee must do the hard work of examining this system and not succumb to any political pressures which might want to see this study quickly end as demonstrated in the battle to get the study extended. Tennesseans deserve better. Lives are at stake.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile malfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile malfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

I cannot express in words my gratitude to all of you who have followed the Paul House case over the years–who have written letters, made phone calls, sent financial support, attended events, and prayed for justice to be done in this case. All of us received a wonderful gift for our July 4th this year, when on Wednesday of last week, House was finally released.

As I stated to many reporters who were at the prison that day, this ordeal provided justice for no one–certainly not for Paul House but not for Carolyn Muncey either. For 23 years her family has lived with the reality that the wrong man might be paying for a crime he didn’t commit while the real perpetrator continued to be at large. Sadly, the state of Tennessee has demonstrated in this case, particularly since the 1990’s when DNA testing confirmed Paul House did not rape Carolyn Muncey, that seeking justice was secondary to maintaining a conviction, and thus 23 years later, here we are.

I keep going back to Dr. Martin Luther Kings’ words that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We are finally seeing that bend after 23 long years as Paul House is one step closer to freedom. Our sincere hope is that Paul House is on his way to becoming the 130th person nationwide to be exonerated and released from death row.

I have talked to Joyce House several times since Paul’s release, and she is practically giddy every time I speak to her. Paul has enjoyed her home cooking and as a real movie buff, has been watching movies constantly. The family had a wonderful July 4 with ribs, fireworks, and time together.

Joyce told me today that Paul asked for pizza the other night for dinner. She gave him a plate with two pieces on it. When he finished the pizza, his brother asked him if he wanted more. Paul replied, “I can’t. We only get one serving.” His brother said, “No, you used to only get one serving. Now you get as much as you want.” So Paul had another slice!

Now that Paul is home, Joyce faces a new challenge: health care. Between now and the end of the trial, Joyce must shoulder the expense of Paul’s care. Currently, he has no medical insurance, and the costs of his care are extremely high.

TCASK is still planning to hold a fundraiser sometime in the next couple of months to raise money to help Joyce out. If anyone would like to contribute to his care now, please send checks to TCASK, P.O. Box 120552, Nashville, TN 37212 with “Paul House” in the memo line. We will keep you updated as plans are made for the fundraiser.

To see Paul at home, click here.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile malfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Yesterday the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice created by the California State Senate released its landmark report on the death penalty. Their findings reveal that California’s death penalty system is excessively costly and riddled with problems leading to lack of fairness and wrongful convictions.

Currently in Tennessee, the Committee to Study the Administration of the Death Penalty, created by the Tennessee legislature in 2007, is also looking at many issues with Tennessee’s death penalty including problems with accuracy, fairness, how those with mental illness and mental retardation are treated within the system, as well as the services provided for both victims’ families and families of those who are executed. Thus far the Committee has uncovered many flaws in the Tennessee system similar to those found by the California Commission.

For more information about the California Commission’s work click here.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

The U.S. Supreme Court has released its opinion in Kennedy v. Louisiana, regarding the constitutionality of sentencing a person to death for the rape of a child in which no murder occurs. Patrick Kennedy is the first person in the country in the modern era of the death penalty to receive such a sentence.

The Court was considering whether the Eighth Amendment prohibits states from imposing a death sentence for child rape, and, if not, whether Louisiana’s statute fails to narrow the class of offenders eligible for death.

In a 5 to 4 vote, the Court ruled that imposing a death sentence for the crime of child rape where the victim does not die nor was death intended is, in fact, unconstitutional. The decision was written by Justice Kennedy. Dissenting were Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Alito, Justice Thomas, and Justice Scalia.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.