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Kirby Cleveland, a Navajo man, faces a possible death sentence if convicted on charges he killed a Navajo Nation police officer last year. If Cleveland is sentenced to death, he would join 26 other Native Americans on death row in U.S prisons, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The Navajo Nation outlawed the death penalty, as have many other tribes. But does that have any sway over how federal prosecutors approach justice for tribal members who commit capital crimes?
Guests:
Kevin Washburn (citizen of the Chickasaw Nation) – professor of law at the University of New Mexico and former assistant secretary for the Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior
Melissa Tatum – law professor at the University of Arizona
Break Music: Dance of the Coyote (song) Tony Duncan (artist) Earth Warrior (album)
I AM ABOUT TO ATTEMPT TO CALL UPON THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT TO RE-EXAMINE THE TRANSCRIPTS OF THE TRIALS WHICH LED TO THE DECEMBER 26, 1862 EXECUTION OF 38 NATIVE MEN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE TRIALS, AND ALL TRANSCRIPTS OF THE TRIALS OF THE OVER 300 CHARGED, INCLUDING THE TRANSRIPTS OF THOSE EXECUTED WHO WERE IN FACT COMPLETELY INNOCENT.
In this case it should sway. Kirby Cleveland did not Premeditated the crime, he was Drunk. As to the Ashlynne Mike Case the Killer should get the death penalty since he did premeditated.