The Boston Globe: on Crime
Alan Khazei:
Opposes death penalty in all cases
In September, Capuano sought to highlight Coakley's evolution on the issue. Coakley previously favored the death penalty in two instances, including for those convicted of killing police officers, but about seven or eight years ago shifted her position
because of concerns about wrongful convictions.The other candidates in the Democratic race, City Year cofounder Alan Khazei and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen G. Pagliuca, say they oppose the death penalty in all cases.
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Limit Supreme Court review of state death penalty conviction
Coakley, who says she is firmly against capital punishment, has drawn the ire of some death penalty opponents by urging the US Supreme Court, in a case involving a mentally disabled convicted murderer, to limit federal review of state court decisions.
Opponents say a decision in Coakley's favor could mean the murderer is put to death and could hinder the ability of death-row defendants to challenge their sentences.Coakley, who signed a friend-of-the-court brief in September with 18 other attorneys
general, said she got involved out of concern that federal courts might win more discretion to review state cases, which she said would severely burden Massachusetts and other states.
Coakley's opponent, Mike Capuano, noted: "If this case wins, this ma
will be put to death. That's finality. And everybody I know that's opposed to the death penalty is on the other side in this case."
A spokeswoman for Coakley said yesterday that she "is firmly against the death penalty in any and all cases."
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Signed death penalty brief with 15 death penalty states
[Mike Capuano criticized Martha Coakley's signing onto a death penalty brief with 18 other attorneys general.] The case in which Coakley joined the brief involves a convicted murderer from Alabama who has appealed his case to the Supreme Court on the
grounds that his state-assigned lawyer failed to introduce evidence that he is mentally retarded. Many of the attorneys general who signed the brief were from more conservative states in the South and Midwest. Just three who signed it are from states
that do not allow the death penalty: IA, MA, and NM. "It would be one thing if she was standing with all the attorneys general in the country or the progressive ones in New England," Capuano said. "She's standing with AL, TX, and GA. I don't get it."
A Coakley spokeswoman explained, "The attorney general's office signed on to the brief because of the far-reaching implications for Massachusetts, including the possibility that it could result in dangerous convicted criminals being released from prison,
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Supported death penalty for cop killers, but now opposes it
In September, Capuano sought to highlight Coakley's evolution on the issue. Coakley previously favored the death penalty in two instances, including for those convicted of killing police officers, but about seven or eight years ago shifted her position
because of concerns about wrongful convictions.A spokeswoman for Coakley said yesterday that she "is firmly against the death penalty in any and all cases. That is her position, and that will be her position as senator."
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Michael Capuano:
Voted for terrorist death penalty as part of larger bill
Capuano once voted to sanction the execution of terrorists. [In response Capuano's criticism of Martha Coakley's death penalty brief], a Coakley spokeswoman highlighted Capuano's vote in December 2001 to authorize the United States to execute terrorists
who bomb public areas or government buildings. "I'm against the death penalty, but if we're going to have one, than there are few people more deserving of it than those who committed those particularly heinous crimes," Capuano told the
Boston Herald at the time. "It's particularly ironic to hear criticism on this issue from the only candidate in this race who has actually voted in favor of the death penalty,
Mike Capuano," the Coakley spokeswoman said.
Capuano has defended his vote by saying the legislation was much broader than the death penalty issue and included stronger laws in terrorism cases.
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Michael Capuano:
Death penalty is out of step with progressive Massachusetts
Capuano yesterday blasted Attorney General Martha Coakley's decision to get involved in an Alabama death penalty case, saying the man they are vying to succeed in the Senate, Edward M. Kennedy, "would have never supported this position.""She is out of
step with the progressive values of the Commonwealth," Capuano said in a statement.
In September, Capuano sought to highlight Coakley's evolution on the issue. Coakley previously favored the death penalty in two instances.
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Stephen Pagliuca:
Opposes death penalty in all cases
In September, Capuano sought to highlight Coakley's evolution on the issue. Coakley previously favored the death penalty in two instances, including for those convicted of killing police officers, but about seven or eight years ago shifted her position
because of concerns about wrongful convictions.The other candidates in the Democratic race, City Year cofounder Alan Khazei and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen G. Pagliuca, say they oppose the death penalty in all cases.
Source: Matt Viser in Boston Globe, "Death Penalty Brief"
Nov 7, 2009
Tom Reilly:
Supports death penalty, but once opposed it
On social issues, [Reilly’s selected running mate, State Rep. Marie] St. Fleur has supported same-sex marriage, as does Reilly, although he came late to his position, much to the anger of some gay political activists. The two also support abortion
rights, but differ on the death penalty. St. Fleur opposes capital punishment, while Reilly, once an opponent, now supports it. She also supports charter schools.
Source: Frank Phillips, Boston Globe, “rising political star”
Jan 31, 2006
Howard Dean:
Even terrorists deserve a fair trial
“No, we can’t beat Bush by being Bush-lite,” Kerry said, using a favorite phrase of Dean’s. “But we also can’t beat George Bush by being light on national security, light on fairness for middle-class Americans, and light on the values that make us
Democrats.” Speaking to reporters after his speech, Kerry said of Dean’s bin Laden remark: “The question asked [to Dean] was, do you believe Osama bin Laden should be tried in the United States and given the death penalty? The answer to both questions is
a simple yes. Yes and Yes.“ A Dean aide cited another recent interview in which Dean said: ”As a president, I would have to defend the process of the rule of law. But as an American, I want to make sure he gets the death penalty he deserves.“
Dean recently issued a statement clarifying his position on bin Laden, after a newspaper account suggested he thought the Al Qaeda leader could be innocent. All he meant, Dean said, was that everyone, including terrorists, deserves a fair trial.
Source: [X-ref Kerry] P. Healy & A. Kornblut, Boston Globe, p. A10
Dec 28, 2003
John Kerry:
Death penalty for Osama bin Laden
“No, we can’t beat Bush by being Bush-lite,” Kerry said, using a favorite phrase of Dean’s. “But we also can’t beat George Bush by being light on national security, light on fairness for middle-class Americans, and light on the values that make us
Democrats.” Speaking to reporters after his speech, Kerry said of Dean’s bin Laden remark: “The question asked [to Dean] was, do you believe Osama bin Laden should be tried in the United States and given the death penalty? The answer to both questions is
a simple yes. Yes and Yes.“ A Dean aide cited another recent interview in which Dean said: ”As a president, I would have to defend the process of the rule of law. But as an American, I want to make sure he gets the death penalty he deserves.“
Dean recently issued a statement clarifying his position on bin Laden, after a newspaper account suggested he thought the Al Qaeda leader could be innocent. All he meant, Dean said, was that everyone, including terrorists, deserves a fair trial.
Source: Patrick Healy & Anne Kornblut, Boston Globe, p. A10
Dec 28, 2003
Mitt Romney:
Favored mandatory sentencing and three strikes
- Supported death penalty
- Wanted to abolish parole, limit probation, and end furloughs and release programs for violent or repeat offenders
-
Favored mandatory sentencing and three strikes and you’re out
- Supported restrictions on plea bargaining
- His crime prevention efforts also focused on instilling family values.
Source: Boston Globe, review of 1994 campaign issues
Mar 21, 2002
John Ashcroft:
Opposes any further delays in McVeigh’s execution
Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is seeking to have his June 11 execution delayed. The execution was postponed after federal investigators disclosed they had failed to turn over thousands of pages of documents to McVeigh’s defense team. John Ashcroft
said the Justice Department will vigorously oppose any attempt to force a new trial or overturn McVeigh’s sentence. “When a fraud upon the court has been perpetrated, then any judgement that the court makes is void,” said McVeigh’s attorney. Another
attorney insists that still-undisclosed documents would point to the involvement of others. Ashcroft says the documents contain useless information that poured into the FBI hotline after the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal
building, which killed 168 people. Ashcroft said, “Based on overwhelming evidence and McVeigh’s own repeated admissions, we know that he is responsible for this crime. We will continue to pursue justice by seeking to carry out the sentence.”
Source: Lynda Gorov, Boston Globe, p. A1 on Bush Cabinet
Jun 1, 2001
John Paul Stevens:
Favors defendants’ rights
Stevens favors abortion rights, affirmative action, and defendants’ rights. His 1995 opinion struck down state term limits on candidates for congress.
Source: Reuters article in Boston Globe, p. A45
Dec 1, 2000
Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
States have broad powers to limit jury awards
Ginsburg is considered liberal but has voted with the conservative wing, most notably in a dissenting opinion that states have broad powers to limit jury awards.
Source: (X-ref government) Reuters article in Boston Globe, p. A45
Dec 1, 2000
Page last updated: Oct 11, 2020