To Delay Justice Is Not To Prevent Justice

The article “Death row inmate entitled to delay for DNA tests” written on Monday, March 22, 2010 by the Editorial Board of the Austin American Statesman is a very interesting and well written article about Henry W. Skinner, a Texas inmate, who is due for execution on Wednesday March 24, 2010.

Capital punishment is a controversial issue in Texas, but the author manages to stay neutral on the issue and still get the point across. The author is stating that Skinner deserves a delay in his execution so that DNA evidence that was never tested can now be tested. The article seems well researched and provides detailed information about the occurrences of the Skinner case as well as details, examples, and dates of previous cases that are similar.

The author offers two examples of Capital Punishment cases to support his argument. In the Newton case the execution was delayed for DNA testing only to prove that Newton was still guilty and she was still executed less than a year later. In the case of Tim Cole DNA evidence cleared him 9 years after he died in prison.

The article is credible and hard to argue becuase the author uses direct quotes and exact dates. One of the more important quotes that he uses comes from Texas Governor Rick Perry, “Justice delayed in this case is not justice denied.” If DNA evidence still finds Skinner guilty then a delay in the execution does not stop justice but simply prevents a repeat of the Tim Cole case.