Bible Reading Gets Sentence Reduced

Denver -- The Colorado Supreme Court threw out the death sentence Monday of a man convicted of raping and killing a cocktail waitress because jurors consulted the Bible during deliberations.

Robert Harlan's attorneys challenged the sentence after discovering five jurors had looked up Bible verses, copied some of them down and then talked about them behind closed doors. Prosecutors said jurors should be allowed to refer to the Bible or other religious texts during deliberations.

For the full story: http://talkleft.com/new_archives/010170.html


I am so glad the judge reversed the death penalty in this case. Jurors are supposed to render a verdict based on the FACTS of the case, not from reading Bible verses (or Tarot cards for that matter... :laugh: )

Let me be the first to say "Oh brother........ :worry: " and the rest is "no comment".

Leaving out all the swearing, I dont have anything to say.

hagd.
Cody

my lips are sealed..... mmmmpppphhhhhhfffffff........ but i said it anyway!

I think we should change the name of the legal profession from lawyer to "Loophole Specialist".

Well I guess that since I know some Scripture by heart I can now use this to get out of jury duty--yaay! BTW a while back I brought a Bible to read while waiting to be called for jury duty. I even had it with me when I was called. But then they told us the judge had just dismissed the case--hmm wonder what would've happened had I made it into the courtroom/jury deliberations room? :sherlock:

Those prosecutors have got to be kidding. They have to know that it's not ok to consult anything other than the evidence.

Constitutional rights are not "loopholes."

Originally Posted by sallykay Those prosecutors have got to be kidding. They have to know that it's not ok to consult anything other than the evidence. Constitutional rights are not "loopholes."

From what I read, the issue was that the jurors were looking through the Bible to try and figure out what God thinks about capital punishment. :sherlock:

Originally Posted by lissajean Well I guess that since I know some Scripture by heart I can now use this to get out of jury duty--yaay! BTW a while back I brought a Bible to read while waiting to be called for jury duty. I even had it with me when I was called. But then they told us the judge had just dismissed the case--hmm wonder what would've happened had I made it into the courtroom/jury deliberations room? :sherlock:

you know that many of our justices are very religious people... maybe moreso than you are.

but they have one thing on you, they can separate the law from their religion when making a decision (schiavo for example) because that's what this country is, a country of law.... and they follow it.

it's a shame that you can now feel you can use the bible to get you out of jury duty.

Originally Posted by aila you know that many of our justices are very religious people... maybe moreso than you are. but they have one thing on you, they can separate the law from their religion when making a decision (schiavo for example) because that's what this country is, a country of law.... and they follow it. it's a shame that you can now feel you can use the bible to get you out of jury duty.

No--as a follower of Christ you are supposed to live the Bible--not separate your life from it. And, once again, you are twisting my words around to suit your agenda.

Originally Posted by lissajean No--as a follower of Christ you are supposed to live the Bible--not separate your life from it. And, once again, you are twisting my words around to suit your agenda.

how am i twisting?

is living the bible turning your back on the judicial system? the same judicial system that gives you the freedom to pray as you wish?

Originally Posted by lissajean No--as a follower of Christ you are supposed to live the Bible--not separate your life from it. And, once again, you are twisting my words around to suit your agenda.

"You" is a collective "you".

You cannot consider your religion when deliberating a court case, period. If you feel that you are unable to follow those directions, you must let the judge know so he/she can excuse you from jury duty.

Originally Posted by lissajean Well I guess that since I know some Scripture by heart I can now use this to get out of jury duty--yaay! BTW a while back I brought a Bible to read while waiting to be called for jury duty. I even had it with me when I was called. But then they told us the judge had just dismissed the case--hmm wonder what would've happened had I made it into the courtroom/jury deliberations room? :sherlock:

Oh, now you shouldn't have to serve jury duty because you carry a bible around? Jury duty is your civic duty- that is, if you have any respect for the law. The very laws that make it possible for you to carry your bible about if that is your wish.

Well, this whole thing pisses me off. :mad2:

They already found the guy guilty. They didn't have to consult the bible for that. I guess they just wanted to make sure the death penalty would 'work.'

He better serve his whole time...that's all I'm saying. Truth in sentencing, please.

The judge instructed the jury not to bring in personal reading materials, blame the jury for misconduct. The bible should not be used in a jury room to give the courage to give the death penalty.