Legal Commentary

The Story of Dominique Green

By Jeralyn

The Christian Science Monitor today presents a glowing review of Thomas Cahill's new book, A Saint on Death Row." It tells the story of Dominique Green who spent 12 years on death row before his Texecution.

Sister Helen Prejean wrote of the book:

"There are many ways to tell the tragic story of America's death rows. Tom Cahill has chosen to show—through the extraordinary life of one man—that God is always working everywhere and can bring the most beautiful soul to maturity in even the most horrifying circumstances. If you read his story, you will never forget Dominique Green, nor will you ever feel the same way about our courts, our prisons, and our criminal justice system. This book is a life-changer." —Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking

Cahill's website features this video of an interview with Green before his execution and Cahill's views on why the death penalty is wrong for anyone. [More...]

Cahill is a religious scholar, but he covers more than religion in the book. As the Christian Science Monitor review says:

Cahill’s moving tale shines a sharp light on a negligent and flawed justice system, and on a state that uses the death penalty far beyond any other. Texas has executed at least 425 people since the penalty was reinstated in 1976, while the next highest state, Virgina, has executed 102.

Yet Green’s story is also a stand-in for thousands, perhaps millions, of other American youths who get into trouble because they were raised in poor and abusive environments, and whose potential is often snuffed out.

While Green’s innocence was never established, Cahill says the most important question is, “Did he receive a fair trial?” The narrative leaves little doubt that answer is “no.”

The takeaway from the book, says the Monitor:

What stands out most, though, is the incredible price society pays for indifference – indifference to the needs of children, to flagrantly unjust systems, and to youths, often victims of abuse themselves, who are locked up and forgotten.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 07, 2009 (boomark / email).