Build Date: Tue Oct 14 05:00:13 2025 UTC
Never trust a man in a blue trenchcoat; never drive a car when you're dead.
-- Tom Waits
Score This One As a Win
2000-11-07 00:13:35
Finally, a verdict that makes sense. The 9th Circuit Court ruled today that a prosecutor can't tell a jury that god wants the defendant dead in a death penalty case.
The court said that it was improper for the prosecutor to claim that ``destroying Sandoval's mortal body might be the only way to save Sandoval's eternal soul.'' And that by sending him to death row the jury would be giving him a "wake-up call". Yeah, wake-up, so we can kill you.
While I applaud the judges ruling, I'm appalled that a California prosecutor even attempted this argument, that the jury bought it and the judge allowed it. I'm further appalled that the California Supreme didn't not over turn it and that the case went to the Federal level to be overturned.
I don't even know where to begin critiquing this. Assuming that the prosecutor believes in the Bible, (and you have to, or there isn't make point in giving the defendant a "wake-up call") I'm pretty sure that god said "Thou shall not kill" somewhere. I don't know, that seems pretty unambiguous to me. I think somewhere in there is "...avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Which kinda takes the whole wake-up call argument pretty mute.
As far as I'm concerned, we don't need this type of Texan prosecution here in California. I DEMAND that the California State Bar to disbar this idiot and ship him to Deep South, where I hear this sort of judicial argument is very popular with the natives. I've also got a bone or two to pick with the California Supreme Court, but that will have to wait for some other time.
You can read the court's opinion here.
For a Yahoo summary,
T O P S T O R I E S
California Glory Hole attracts huge crowds
A glory hole at Napa's Lake Berryessa is drawing huge crowds. According to Chris Lee, the general manager for the Solano County Water Agency, the glory hole hasn't been active since 2019, and only restarted operations on Feb 4. (More...)
Republican State Senator busted after soliciting a teenage girl
Republican State Senator Justin Eichorn of Minnesota was arrested for soliciting a teen girl on Monday just hours after he introduced a bill proposing "Trump derangement syndrome" (TDS) as a form of mental illness. (More...)
Parents claim measles is not that bad after having only one child die
The parents of a Texas girl who died from the measles are defending their decision not to vaccinate their daughter. "She says they would still say 'Don't do the shots,'" an unidentified translator for the parents said. "They think it’s not as bad as the media is making it out to be." (More...)
Delusional rich man tries to fire town staff
"I'm mayor now" said write-in mayoral candidate and founder of Pirate’s Booty Snacks Robert Ehrlich after losing the election for Mayor of Sea Cliff, NY. Then he tried to take over the Village Hall and fire everyone. (More...)
Musk claims Xitter security is staffed by idiots
Earlier this month Xitter experienced a massive outage. In an interview, Musk told Fox Business that he believes the attack came from "IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area." (More...)
The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
Ideas have taken horrifying shape and rooted into our modern reality. (More...)
C L A S S I C P I G D O G
The Peppermill Is Not Good For You
Paradise lounge on the strip. Expense it, bad boy! (More...)
Eavesdropping on Geeks: 'Star Trek: Discovery' vs 'The Orville'
If you broke into Pigdog's top sekrit headquarters, spying on their mysterious mix of weird science and old-skool geekiness, you'd overhear this conversation: (More...)
This is one for the Ages. Our new signature SMRL drink. We beta tested this several weeks ago at the Goat Brothers B-Day Party. Oh my! (More...)
NASA's Mars missions keep blowing up and crashing, but dammit, when you reach for the stars you have to expect a few minor setbacks. Drink a toast to the men and women of NASA! Toast them with a Lost Probe mixed up with your own two (or three) hands! (More...)
Juggler Vain attempts to wrestle with the issues around the KPFA shutdown; Big-time wrestling ensues. (More...)
Hooray! At long last, a NEW Spocktail of the Week! Kid-tested, mother-approved! (More...)
