Walter B. Jones: “last week the State of North Carolina executed Kermit Smith for the brutal kidnaping, rape, and murder of a college…”

“last week the State of North Carolina executed Kermit Smith for the brutal kidnaping, rape, and murder of a college cheerleader in 1980. Because of the burdensome appeals process, the case dragged on for 14 years, going before 46 judges and the U.S. Supreme Court 5 times. The victim's family suffered each and every time the case was brought up for review. Why must we penalize the victims and their families? Haven't they gone through enough. Honest taxpaying citizens question why criminals spend an average of 15 years on death row appealing their cases. They question the enormous cost of the appeals process. They question the amount of time courts spend hearing these cases, while in turn ignoring other pressing matters. We, as Members of Congress, have the obligation and responsibility to streamline this process for the victims' families and the law-abiding citizen. The Effective Death Penalty Act is a step in the right direction. It sets time limits for the appeals process. We must support H.R. 729.”