In nearly every case, it was outside pressure, not the criminal justice system, that brought these terrible miscarriages of justice to light. Our State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie , House Majority Leader, along with other noted speakers throughout the country, spoke on the need for a moratorium so that the death penalty process can be reviewed. There are, to be sure, criminals in this world, but when persons are sentenced, we should be sure that the person accused really did the crime. We cannot continue to assume that TV coverage is true and complete. To support the proposed one-year Moratorium and review of the Illinois death penalty statute, we urge you to call, write, or fax messages of support to the Governor, State Senators, and State Representatives.
Politicians are very sensitive to communications from and actions by constituents.
A special thank you to all who in the past year have signed our petitions on the Moratorium for the Death Penalty. One example of a wrongful sentencing to death is the case of Nathson Fields , who was convicted and sentenced to death by then Judge Thomas J. Maloney , the only judge in U.S. history ever convicted of taking bribes in a capitol murder case. When Judge Maloney realized that the FBI knew of the bribe, he returned the money, but found both men guilty and sentenced them to death. The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously granted Fields a new trial in January 1998. The criminal justice system's prison business is the new growth industry in this country.