Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Already a highly controversial subject, the last couple of weeks has seen rising challenges to the death penalty. For example:

• In Texas, a man by the name of Jose Medellin was executed for his part in the rape and murder of two young girls. However, Medellin wasn't an American citizen, he was a Mexican citizen, and now the Mexican government is furious, not only because of the execution, but because they claim he was denied the chance to consult the Mexican consulate for legal help following his arrest.


• A man in Ohio who is sentenced to die for raping and killing two young women in the 1980's claims that he is too overweight to be put to death by lethal injection because it will be too difficult to find his veins and because he is already taking one of the drugs used to sedate people for lethal injections.

In California, a panel of experts found that the death penalty process is dysfunctional. The findings, by the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, grew out of the first comprehensive look at the state's death penalty in the 30 years since capital punishment was restored in California. They said that the program is close to collapse unless the state puts millions of dollars into reviving it.

The report said that 87% of all such murders in California now carry a possible penalty of death. In polls, Californians have supported capital punishment by a margin of 2 to 1 and have repeatedly voted to toughen sentencing laws. The administration of the death penalty however is still failing.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen G. Rodriquez are experienced and knowledgeable regarding the death penalty and all other sentences and penalties issued in Los Angeles for violent crimes. For assistance, contact the attorneys today.