Letter: Standards needed in capital cases

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 8:43 a.m.

Before adjourning for the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Kevin Wiggins, a borderline mentally retarded man convicted of murder and sentenced to die, was denied his constitutional right to effective legal counsel because his defense lawyers failed to investigate evidence that could have swayed jurors away from sentencing Wiggins to death. There is a growing agreement between death penalty supporters and death penalty opponents that something must be done to address the broken capital-punishment system. The decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Wiggins' death sentence because he received inadequate legal representation is another strong signal that it's time for Congress to pass legislation that establishes minimum standards for defense lawyers in capital cases, provides greater access to DNA testing, and takes other steps necessary to guarant ee fair and just procedures when a life is at stake.

TRUDY MUSSER

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