November 22-28, 2000: After a jury returned a death...

November 22-28, 2000: After a jury returned a death sentence verdict, Cleveland (Ohio) Judge Daniel Gaul sentenced a man to death and shortly thereafter took the opportunity to speak to the press about his opposition to the death penalty. In a recent interview Judge Gaul stated: "The issue of crime and punishment is easily exploited. I can't remember the last person in public office who said what I've said. They don't want to get labelled soft on crime. But I'm not going to be manipulated by anyone calling me soft on crime. The fact is, no one wants to stand up for the rights of defendants until they're in a jam themselves. No one wants to speak on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged unless they know someone who's poor and disadvantaged. I think that's an indictment of our society. "I mean, how tough is tough enough? We have 2 million people incarcerated in this country. That is more than any other country, including China. In the case of capital punishment, I'm not talking about releasing these people. What we're talking about is not having the state engage in institutionalised violence. It sends the wrong message. It's not restorative justice, it's vengeance. It's not a deterrent. So what is it? It's retribution."