I was interviewed by Thomas Zimmer from Sputnik News on the California case, which may determine whether the state’s death penalty system in constitutionals. Zimmer wrote,
On Monday, The Los Angeles Times reported that a US appeals court focused on procedural issues that could put at risk a previous district court ruling that declared California’s system of capital punishment was unconstitutional because of “decades-long delays.”
“Long delays in their [state of California’s] system and recurring appeals add to the already enormous tab and give nothing but uncertainty to murder victims’ families who are retraumatized with every appeal and news story,” Hyden said on Tuesday.
California has spent more than $4 billion on their capital punishment system, Hyden added, and have executed 13 individuals while releasing three from death row who were wrongly convicted.
“I think it’s appropriate for the courts to review California’s death penalty system,” Hyden said. “It is marred by mistakes, inefficiency, and long delays.”