Stop wrongful convictions

continued from page 3

 As in Julie’s case, prosecutors announced they were choosing to reverse course on their earlier decision to seek the death penalty. The Decatur Herald and Review quoted the father of the victim:

“If you take away the death penalty, they can’t tap into that slush fund. As long as they’ve got that slush fund available, they’re going to use it,” said Hearn. “It’s all coming down to money. This cuts off the money flow.”

Macon County State’s Attorney Scott Rueter did not deny the allegations, and said the Capital Litigation Trust Fund was one of the issues discussed in the decision-making process. But Rueter also told the Herald and Review, “It’s not a main reason for what we’re doing. Any aspect that may affect the litigation of the case is a factor, and I can’t deny that we looked at that issue. …I don’t believe it was a main emphasis.”

The other reason, as in Julie’s case, was to avoid Supreme Court Rule 416, requiring the appointment of two capital-qualified attorneys. These were the reforms that the court adopted to prevent the conviction of an innocent person facing the death penalty.

With all of the attention, however, focused on the flaws of capital punishment, policy makers still need to address the flaws that remain for the majority of cases that go through the courts system.

Bill Clutter is a licensed private detective and is director of investigations at the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield.