This is chapter 12 of my book Ceremonies of Innocence: Essays from the Indian Wars. It's © 2012 by me, published by Dog Iron Press, and available on Amazon and Kindle and Kobo.
I put it up in response to a complaint that nobody posts on criminal justice issues. It's the story of the longest serving inmate on California's death row.
It's been almost a year since I have checked the procedural posture of the case. Mr. Stankewitz is unhappy with me because I will not advocate for his innocence, having no basis for that.
What basis do I have for thinking Mr. Stankewitz has the skills necessary to live among us now?
None.
Whose fault is that? Who failed to teach him?
I can't say that he will not hurt somebody if released, but I am hard put to explain why the state of California needs his blood or has the moral right to take it.
There is seldom a clearer case for executive commutation of the death penalty. Or for the government's lawyers to throw in the towel on punishment and just be happy with their conviction.
I commend these political solutions to California Kossacks. I do not think the legal system has anything useful to add to this case.