Controversial remarks about minorities and the death penalty, reportedly made three months ago by Judge Edith Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit are generating outrage after a complaint was filed against her Tuesday by several civil rights organizations.
The complaint, based on affidavits filed by several people who attended the public speech at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, say Judge Jones told the audience of primarily law students that certain racial groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics are more predisposed to crime than other ethnic groups; that Mexican nationals would prefer to be on death row in the United States rather than serving prison terms in Mexico; that the imposition of a death sentence provides a service to capital defendants because they are more likely to make their peace with God before execution; and that? claims of racism, innocence, arbitrariness, and violations of international law and treaties are ?red herrings? used by opponents of capital punishment. The speech was sponsored by the Pennsylvania student chapter of the ?Federalist Society.
Marc Bookman, director of the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation in Philadelphia, said he told fellow death penalty defense lawyers in Texas about the remarks after he attended the event. Bookman said he was ?flabbergasted and appalled,? when he heard Jones? comments.
?It took me two minutes to realize in my opinion she was voicing opinions that I don?t think judges should have,? said Bookman.
He did not lodge the complaint with the Fifth Circuit, however. That was done by several groups, including the Texas Civil Rights Project. Jim Harrington, director of the Project said his group joined in filing the complaint because the remarks are ?unjudgelike conduct and that this undermines the integrity of our judicial system.?
Harrington said the timing of filing the complaint this week was not related to efforts to stop upcoming executions. ?I wasn?t even aware of that until someone mentioned it,? he said. But he does think lawyers for death row inmates could raise the question of whether it is appropriate for Judge Jones to hear death penalty appeals, considering her comments. ?This is not fair and impartial judging,? Harrington said.
The Associated Press said Judge Jones did not return a call for comment.
A spokesman for the University of Pennsylvania said in an e-mail that ?no issues were raised? with school administrators after the speech. The Federalist Society chapter could not be reached for comment.
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