Once again, an American state is ready to execute a man whose guilt is shrouded in legitimate doubt.
The Austin American-Statesman printed an op-ed written by former Texas Governor Mark White and former FBI Director William Sessions about the upcoming Texas execution of Hank Skinner. These are not death penalty opponents like myself. Instead, they are death penalty proponents experienced in law enforcement and concerned about its implementation, and for good reason.
State and federal courts have the opportunity to order DNA testing. If the courts drop the ball, however, Gov. Rick Perry should intervene so Skinner won’t be executed before DNA testing can be performed.
We hope the courts’ actions will reflect the belief of the majority of Texans that inmates should have access to DNA testing that could prove their innocence. This belief also is shared by more than a dozen current and former elected officials and former judges, prosecutors and law enforcement, who have joined together to urge state officials to test the DNA evidence.
We agree that the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for certain crimes. But we also are united in our deep conviction that when it comes to the death penalty, there is no room for uncertainty. The DNA testing that Skinner seeks could prove that he committed the murders, or it might prove he didn’t.
