Prof. Hing Introduces Recommendation to Repeal the CA Death Penalty

Bill Ong Hing, professor of law at the UC Davis School of Law and commissioner on the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, appeared at a press conference today to introduce a supplemental statement on repealing the death penalty in California. Professor Hing and seven other commissioners support the final report of the Commission which suggests improvements to the current system should Californians elect to continue the death penalty; however, in their supplemental statement, they recommend the death penalty be repealed. Professor Hing was the principal author of the supplemental statement. The eight commissioners argue that the death penalty is too costly, the possibility of executing an innocent person is unacceptably high, capital punishment inordinately affects communities of color, the imposition of the death penalty varies greatly from county to county, a low income defendant faces a troubling disadvantage when charged with a capital offense, the death penalty forecloses any possibility of healing and redemption, and the death qualification juror requirement inherently and unjustly biases the process against the defendant. They recommend California follow the lead of other civilized societies who have concluded that the death penalty be abolished. The report of the Commission and supplemental statements can be found at: http://www.ccfaj.org/rr-dp-official.html.

Download PDF of Supplemental Statement 

Los Angeles Times Article, July 1, 2008