Capital Questions

Donald Heller: Co-author of the Briggs Death Penalty Initiative, the present death penalty law in the State of California. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California and is now in private practice. He recently signed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of Thomas Thompson's appeal. [The law presupposes that prosecutors would seek the penalty in cases where the evidence was strong. This case was a failure of the system. Mike Jacobs: Deputy district attorney, Orange County. He prosecuted Thomas Thompson, winning a conviction and the death penalty. He also prosecuted Thompson's alleged accomplice and also convicted him. Quin Denvir: Federal defender, Eastern District of California; former State and county public defender; well known criminal appellate specialist with particular expertise in the death penalty. He represents Thomas M. Thompson in the appeal of his death sentence. Federal defender, Eastern District of California; former State and county public defender; well known criminal appellate specialist with particular expertise in the death penalty. He represents Thomas M. Thompson in the appeal of his death sentence. Ed Jagels: District attorney, Kern County; a co-author of Proposition 115. Larry Marshall: Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law. Marshall has helped prove the innocence and secure the release of three inmates of Illinois' death row. John Pemberton: Chief policy counsel, Washington Legal Foundation. Richard Dieter: Executive director, Death Penalty Information Center. Tom McClintock: State Assemblyman (38th District, Granada Hills), and Republican Whip. Author of AB566 signed Monday by Governor Wilson. The law grants to family members of a murder victim the right to attend the execution of the killer.

topic: Victims' Rights in Capital Cases