The Bay Area Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society presented:
Trials and Tribulations: The SAFE Initiative and the Future of the Death Penalty in California
Featuring:
- Gerald Uelmen, Professor of Law and Director, Edwin A. Heafey Jr. Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Santa Clara Law
- Stephen M. Wagstaffe, District Attorney, San Mateo County
- Jeanne Woodford, Executive Director, Death Penalty Focus; Former Director, California Department of Corrections
This November, voters in California will vote on Proposition 34, also known as the SAFE Initiative, which purports to “replace the death penalty with justice that works.” If the measure passes, California will abolish the death penalty, something the measure’s proponents say will save hundreds of millions of dollars a year and redirect efforts on solving crimes. Critics say the financial savings are massively exaggerated, and point out that a significant majority of California voters approve of the death penalty. The Bay Area Lawyer Chapter considered these ideas in a lunch-time panel discussion with some of Proposition 34’s supporters and critics.