Whenever capital punishment was discussed, Trevor was adamant in his opposition to the death penalty. He contended that the death penalty only targeted the poor and minorities for execution. In effect, the administration of the death penalty in the United States was a gross violation the the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. I am not personally opposed to the death penalty, although I agree it is administered in a discriminatory manner. I believe only good legal counsel will ensure fairness and due process for indigent defendants .
Poor people get poor legal representation.
In capital cases, this proves deadly. For instance, The Chicago Tribune recently reviewed 300 death penalty sentences in Illinois. Nearly one-half of the cases appealed were ultimately reversed in favor of new trials or sentencing hearings. In at least 30 of these cases, the newspaper found that the defendants had been represented by attorneys who were later disbarred. Because of this unfairness, particularly the issue of inadequate legal representation, Illinois Gov. George Ryan has imposed a halt on all executions until the state reviews its death penalty procedures.