Russ Feingold: “I am deeply concerned about and oppose elimination of the Post-Conviction Defender Organizations. This debate is not, as…”

“I am deeply concerned about and oppose elimination of the Post-Conviction Defender Organizations. This debate is not, as some would have you believe, about the death penalty. It is about common sense and fiscal responsibility. The benefits of eliminating these centers are allegedly two-fold; one, it will save taxpayers $20 million and two, it will sped up executions by eliminating lawyers who, under the guise of providing effective counsel to men sentenced to death, allegedly work only to delay executions. While these arguments may, on the surface, be appealing to some, they are both inherently flawed. Elimination of these centers will do nothing to expedite the rate of executions in this Nation, nor will the American taxpayers save any money whatsoever. In fact, the costs of providing these services will increase if these centers are eliminated. Chief Judge Richard Arnold, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and chair of the budget committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference has testified before Congress that these centers are the most economical method of providing these essential services.”