The Post-Gazette has long opposed the death penalty for practical and humanitarian reasons. But even those who support capital punishment should favor a system that minimizes the endemic risks of unfairness and discrimination against poor and minority defendants. That was a year ago. And still the governor is playing games. Under the American system of justice, the state hires and trains and pays the prosecutors, but the ultimate state interest is not to see the conviction of everyone accused, but to see justice served.
Convictions are more likely if the defense is hamstrung by lack of resources and lack of knowledge.
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