DtG -- bad examples. Neither the Iraqis nor the Nazis followed due process in their mass killing of Kurds and Jews. I still say the judge -- a real judge in a real court -- is merely the voice of the society he represents and it is up to the society to set the guidelines within which he operates. He is not, as were the examples you cited, free to engage in murderous whims.

McGrath -- saying that someone deserves to die for their crimes and then saying the death penalty is less cruel than life imprisonment (particularly in isolation) are in no way contradictory. They're entirely separate concepts concerning ideas of life and death. Certainly not mutually exclusive.

Blackcatter -- I'd love to see those figures. Do you have a referant?

cheers,

david