Death Penalty in America, Legal Studies 485, Spring 2003

04-17-03, Group discussion questions

 

Bedau, Chapter 26

 

  1. What is clemency?  Who has power to grant it?  What kind of relief is available?  (P. 362)

 

  1. What are some of the reasons why clemency had been granted in the twenty years prior to Otey’s case? (p. 363)

 

  1. Who was Harold Otey?  What was he convicted of?  What were the reasons his advocates thought he should be granted clemency? (p. 363)

 

  1. What do you think about Attorney General Stenberg’s role in the Pardons’ Board hearing and decision? 

 

  1. What witnesses and evidence did Otey present at the hearing?  How strong do you think it was? (p. 368-371)  What witnesses and evidence did the state present?  How strong was it?  (p. 371-373)

 

  1. The dissenter, Secretary of State Beermann, said that “clemency is the conscience of the people”?  (p. 373) What did he mean by that?  Do you agree with him?

 

  1. What do you think about the Governor’s role?  (p. 375-381)

 

  1. Should Harold Otey have been granted clemency?  Why or why not?

 

 

 

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