State prosecutors have to testify at death penalty hearing

In the biggest news story last week, the Appellate Court ruled that state prosecutors can be called to testify at a hearing, where defense counsel are attempting to show that the state’s death penalty is unconstitutional.

Lawyers for Jessie Campbell III hope to prove that prosecutors have
"unbridled discretion" and that the death penalty is pursued
capriciously.

Campbell’s public defenders, Ronald Gold and David Smith, hope to have
his death sentence overturned by showing that prosecutors in some
judicial districts are more aggressive in seeking the death penalty
than others. Such a "geographical disparity," they argue, is a
violation of the due process and equal protection clauses of both the
state and U.S. constitutions.

Here is a chart showing which jurisdictions have pursued the death penalty from 1978 to 2002:

Stay tuned, because this should be a lot of fun.

(Image source: Hartford Courant)