Battle of the Stereotypes?

Wait a minute? I thought Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly was just doing his job when he set out to kill someone. I mean, hasn't he proclaimed publicly that he only pursues the death penalty because the Legislator has mandated that certain crimes are death-eligible? He has no feelings about the penalty. No, hot he of humble civil service stature.

So why is he appearing at a debate next week on the death penalty? Why argue in favor of needling some citizens to death?

The debate will take place at the University of Connecticut law school on April 20 at 7 p.m. Opposite Connelly will be Michael Fitzpatrick, the present of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (CCDLA), a voluntary, and generally tepid and sometimes trite, group of defense lawyers.

Connelly is the king of the state's death row. He has put more men there than all of the other prosecutors in the state combined. He once referred to the state's Supreme Court as lacking in courage when it overturned a conviction. He's a good lawyer; he knows his jury pool and generally gets his man, when he is not reversed for prosecutorial misconduct.

But what's the point of this debate?

The CCDLA will posture against the death penalty because it defends people accused of capital crimes. Connelly will defend the penalty because he seeks it. Sort of like watching a couple of puppets mouthing lines scripted by others, in my view. Can you hear the moderator? "On your mark. Get set. Cliche!"

The death penalty is a serious issue all right, and it should be debated. But it is too important a topic to be left to lawyers. We're mere mouthpieces for our clients.

I may turn up at the debate. I won't be there expecting to have my mind changed. I'll be carrying tomatos to toss at Connelly. He's no mere civil servant humbly doing the people's will. Turns out he likes killing, and is prepared to defend it.

As for Fitzpatrick? A nice guy, and a good lawyer. He'll ooze goodwill and repeat all the cliches at his disposal. No tomato for him, just a plea for something more than the usual CCDLA fare.

Comments

[Gideon]

Perhaps the point is purely academic - seeing as how it's being held at the law school. Connelly has defended the death penalty before - at a debate at the legislature with Gerry Smyth on the other side. What else is he to do? I don't agree with him, but it is his official position.

[Mike]

Debates on the death penalty are booooorrrring.

[Norm Pattis]

Mike:

I agree. Connellys is quite engaging, though. No Darrow on the other side. More posturing by parties locked into their position due to their institutional affiliations.

Norm