Martha Coakley in The Boston Globe

On Crime: 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

On Crime: 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

On Crime: 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

The above quotations are from Media coverage of MA political races in The Boston Globe. Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of MA political races in The Boston Globe. Click here for other excerpts by Martha Coakley. Click here for a profile of Martha Coakley.
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