Charles Grodin on the Felony Murder Rule
Letter from Charles Grodin to Supreme Court Justice Kennedy on the Felony Murder Rule
February 19, 2010 by shoofoolatte
February 16, 2010
Honorable Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
Supreme Court of the United States
One First Street
Washington, DC N.E. 20543
Dear Honorable Associate Justice Kennedy,
I was heartened to read your remarks on our Justice system in the New York Times today. Just so you don’t think the dad from the Beethoven movies is writing you, I began working on justice system issues in 1995, when I began my cable show on CNBC. In 2004 I was cited by Governor Pataki of New York for helping reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws. I have been able to gain clemency for many non violent inmates in New York.
Late last year I met with Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the Felony Murder Rule, which is felt by many to be the most heinous piece of legislation we have in America. Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania, currently the President of the Governor’s Association is very supportive, as is Senator Orrin Hatch. Norman Reimer, the Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has recently agreed to put the constitutionality of the Felony Murder Rule on their agenda.
The most striking example of this law is the case of Ryan Holle, a young man in Florida, who is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole; even though no one disputes he was home asleep in bed at the time of the crime. He had lent his car to his roommate, who with others committed a robbery and a murder. The prosecution simply said “No car. No murder.” The Felony Murder Rule must qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. It’s certainly unusual, as we are the only country in the world to retain it. England and all civilized countries in Europe, as well as India and Canada have eliminated it. It certainly is cruel, if a boy home asleep in bed at the time of the crime can be given a life sentence
with no chance of parole.
I don’t sufficiently understand how the system works to know how you could be helpful. I would imagine a Felony Murder case would have to come before you, but perhaps you can speak out about it, as you have on other justice system issues.
Thank you on behalf of all the tens of thousands of people in prison who don’t belong there. I can’t resist ending this with something you obviously know. We represent five percent of the world’s population and twenty five percent of the world’s prison population. As Senator Webb recently said so eloquently “We are either the most evil people on earth, or there’s something wrong with our justice system.” I don’t believe we’re the most evil people on earth.
Sincerely,
Charles Grodin
February 19, 2010 by shoofoolatte
February 16, 2010
Honorable Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
Supreme Court of the United States
One First Street
Washington, DC N.E. 20543
Dear Honorable Associate Justice Kennedy,
I was heartened to read your remarks on our Justice system in the New York Times today. Just so you don’t think the dad from the Beethoven movies is writing you, I began working on justice system issues in 1995, when I began my cable show on CNBC. In 2004 I was cited by Governor Pataki of New York for helping reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws. I have been able to gain clemency for many non violent inmates in New York.
Late last year I met with Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the Felony Murder Rule, which is felt by many to be the most heinous piece of legislation we have in America. Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania, currently the President of the Governor’s Association is very supportive, as is Senator Orrin Hatch. Norman Reimer, the Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has recently agreed to put the constitutionality of the Felony Murder Rule on their agenda.
The most striking example of this law is the case of Ryan Holle, a young man in Florida, who is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole; even though no one disputes he was home asleep in bed at the time of the crime. He had lent his car to his roommate, who with others committed a robbery and a murder. The prosecution simply said “No car. No murder.” The Felony Murder Rule must qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. It’s certainly unusual, as we are the only country in the world to retain it. England and all civilized countries in Europe, as well as India and Canada have eliminated it. It certainly is cruel, if a boy home asleep in bed at the time of the crime can be given a life sentence
with no chance of parole.
I don’t sufficiently understand how the system works to know how you could be helpful. I would imagine a Felony Murder case would have to come before you, but perhaps you can speak out about it, as you have on other justice system issues.
Thank you on behalf of all the tens of thousands of people in prison who don’t belong there. I can’t resist ending this with something you obviously know. We represent five percent of the world’s population and twenty five percent of the world’s prison population. As Senator Webb recently said so eloquently “We are either the most evil people on earth, or there’s something wrong with our justice system.” I don’t believe we’re the most evil people on earth.
Sincerely,
Charles Grodin
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