Arizona Ignores Trial Judge, Kills Prisoner

The death penalty in this case is not appropriate and never has been.”

That’s what former judge Cheryl Hendrix told Arizona’s Board of Executive Clemency in support of Jeffrey Landrigan’s effort to have his death sentence commuted.  What’s important about judge Hendrix is that she is the one who sentenced him to death.  New information that Landrigan’s lawyer failed to present at the trial convinced her that the death sentence she issued had been wrong.  

Unfortunately, the US Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, had already ruled that this new information would NOT have made a difference.  That turned out to be flat wrong, but an erroneous Supreme Court ruling that still trumps everything else. The Arizona Board split 2-2 vote, but that, and Governor Jan Brewer, was enough to keep the execution process rolling. 

Landrigan’s attorneys also attempted to shine a light on the secretive practices of Arizona’s execution team (which now apparently includes an un-named British pharmaceutical company).  Had they been successful, this would have been a great public service.  Why should a public agency with the power to kill people be allowed to operate in the dark?

But that effort was not successful, thanks to another 5-4 US Supreme Court vote.  The non-FDA approved drugs acquired from Great Britain appeared to work as the executioners wanted, and, late last night, Arizona carried out a death sentence that “is not appropriate and never has been.

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5 thoughts on “Arizona Ignores Trial Judge, Kills Prisoner

  1. Everything stinks in Arizona! It (and the U.S. Supreme Court) has become totally racist by breaking the U.S. Constitution and the laws and has now killed Jeffrey Landrigan, who may have been innocent of the murder of Chester Dean Dyer, with support and evidence of his drug and child abuse that went TOTALLY ignored by the incompetant defense lawyer and the courts that STILL have caveman mentality. And now Arizona and Dyer's family have committed the ultimate injustice of killing Landrigan. My heart breaks for the families of Landrigan and Dyer, and I hope that Arizona and Texas will one day have to answer to a higher authority, i.e., God. And I do hope that Landrigan made his peace with God before he died. May he and Dyer rest in the eternal peace that had been denied for them on earth. 🙁

  2. Everything stinks in Arizona! It (and the U.S. Supreme Court) has become totally racist by breaking the U.S. Constitution and the laws and has now killed Jeffrey Landrigan, who may have been innocent of the murder of Chester Dean Dyer, with support and evidence of his drug and child abuse that went TOTALLY ignored by the incompetant defense lawyer and the courts that STILL have caveman mentality. And now Arizona and Dyer’s family have committed the ultimate injustice of killing Landrigan. My heart breaks for the families of Landrigan and Dyer, and I hope that Arizona and Texas will one day have to answer to a higher authority, i.e., God. And I do hope that Landrigan made his peace with God before he died. May he and Dyer rest in the eternal peace that had been denied for them on earth. 🙁

  3. I would like to say thank you for your efforts. Another id like to point out is the supreme court ordered the dna test and was to be back the day after my cousions death. They released the paper that day but it was dated oct. 1 and dna proof states he did not act in ethier act the state aleged. I know he wasnt a perfect person and he did wrong please dont think im saying that but he didnt kill dryer. Thank you again

  4. I would like to say thank you for your efforts. Another id like to point out is the supreme court ordered the dna test and was to be back the day after my cousions death. They released the paper that day but it was dated oct. 1 and dna proof states he did not act in ethier act the state aleged. I know he wasnt a perfect person and he did wrong please dont think im saying that but he didnt kill dryer. Thank you again

  5. Why operate in the dark if they believe what they are doing is right? I don't think anyone is at ease with the death penalty, but it's easier to go along with it than to speak up and maybe put an end to it.

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