Saturday, February 2, 2008

Turow on Capital Punishment

A couple of years ago I picked up Ultimate Punishment by Scott Turow (available in the library: KF9227.C2 T87 2003 at Good Reads). This slender book -- subtitled "a lawyer's reflections on dealing with the death penalty" -- relates Turow's experience handling a couple of death penalty appeals pro bono and serving on the Illinois commission that looked at the death penalty. He said he began as a "death penalty agnostic" -- not opposed, not for -- and ended up so concerned that the report he participated in led to Gov. Ryan's decision to declare a moratorium on the punishment.

This is a thoughtful discussion of the issues. And you already know that Turow can write in a way that keeps you reading!

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