PHILADELPHIA, PA: Judge Sotomayor’s opposition to the death penalty stands in stark contrast to Senator Specter’s long-time support of the death penalty as an essential tool for law enforcement officials to protect families in Pennsylvania and nationwide.
“As a former District Attorney, Senator Specter is a long-time proponent of the death penalty,” said Pennsylvania Judicial Network spokesperson Athan Koutsiouroumbas, “Judge Sotomayor opposes the death penalty.”
“Judge Sotomayor has labeled the death penalty ‘racist’ and ‘counterproductive’,” said Koutsiouroumbas, “Senator Specter must compel Judge Sotomayor to further explain her opinion which is out of step with most Americans.”
“Senator Specter should ask Judge Sotomayor the following questions,” said Koutsiouroumbas:
-As a judicial activist, would Judge Sotomayor work to reverse the death penalty?
-Would Judge Sotomayor oppose the death penalty for terrorists?
-Why does Judge Sotomayor believe the death penalty is racist?
-What makes crime so complex that it is unreasonable to believe capital punishment can serve as an effective law enforcement tool to protect families?
-Would Judge Sotomayor’s opposition to the death penalty inhibit her from enforcing the law?
“As nearly 70% of Pennsylvanians support the death penalty, Pennsylvanians deserve an answer from Judge Sotomayor,” said Koutsiouroumbas.
Senator Specter on the Death Penalty:
“I have been a long time proponent of the death penalty since my days as a District Attorney in Philadelphia.” (Press Release, 5/15/02)
“As early as 1985, I authored anti-terrorist legislation, including the “Terrorist Prosecution Act,” to provide for a criminal trial in U.S. courts for any person who assaulted, maimed, or murdered a U.S. citizen anywhere in the world, and the “Terrorist Death Penalty Act,” to authorize the death penalty for terrorists.” (www.specter.gov, 6/11/09)
Judge Sotomayor on the Death Penalty (Memo of PRLDEF, 3/24/81):
-“Capital punishment is associated with evident racism in our society.”
-“In the review of the current literature of the past two years, no publications have been found that challenge the evidence and the rationale presented in opposition to the death penalty.”
-“The problem of crime and violence in American society is so complex, it is unreasonable to think that capital punishment will result in preventing it or diminishing it.”
-“Our present perspective on the meaning of our values in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and the state of humanistic thinking in the world judge capital punishment as a violation of those values.”
-“It is counter-productive; we inflict death on the offender to manifest our opposition to his inflicting death on another.”
The Pennsylvania Judicial Network (PJN) is a coalition of citizens joined together to educate Pennsylvanians on the Federal Courts and its nominees. In partnership with the Judicial Confirmation Network (www.judicialnetwork.com), the PCN works to ensure that the confirmation process for all judicial nominees is fair and that every nominee sent to the full Senate receives an up or down vote.
For additional information about Sotomayor, visit www.aboutsoniasotomayor.com
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