State Assembly Candidate Doug Haaland Issues statement on Death Penalty Ruling

Doug Haaland, candidate for State Assembly, released the following statement in response to the United States District Court's ruling regarding the unconstitutionality of California's death penalty:

“I am somewhat astounded by the recent decision by United States District Court Judge Cormac Carney involving the death penalty in California. Having been endorsed by Mike Reynolds, the father of California's Three Strikes law and whose daughter was viciously murdered, I stand for the rights of victims for justice. No one can know what it feels like to be a victim of crime until, unfortunately, they become one. We need to make California's public safety system safe and predictable for the victims of crime, NOT criminals."

Haaland further stated, “This decision, which declares our state’s death penalty unconstitutional due to the delay between a criminal receiving the sentence and the ultimate execution of that sentence, is disgraceful. The primary cause of these delays is the utilization of our court system to find a cause of action to overturn the penalty as imposed by the court. The premise that the length of time in these cases is ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ not only ignores the rights of the victims and the families involved in these cases, but it also ignores the contributing role of the courts in such delays. Judge Carney’s declaration that the delays create a question on the “retributive or deterrent purpose” for application of the death penalty avoids the fact that it is a ‘penalty.’ The court that sentences a criminal to such a penalty generally does so without regard to retributive value or the level of deterrence.”  

"I hope my opponent will join me in calling on California Attorney General Kamala Harris to review Judge Carney’ decision in an expeditious manner and appeal this decision as quickly as possible to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals."

Assembly District 8 includes the communities of Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Murieta, Rosemont, Wilton and portions of unincorporated Sacramento County.