Third Saturday Seminar 2009-2010
Humanity at a Crossroads
Session 7
March 27, 2010, 9:30 am til 12:00 noon

The Death Penalty

Rev Carroll Pickett

“Windsor Hill Club House, 1 East Windsor Hills Circle, Conroe, TX 77384 (936)271-3411
one stoplight west of the West Entrance to Montgomery Campus on 242
See Map Below or Get directions
The Clubhouse Opens at 9:00 am

Our Speaker will be Rev Carroll Pickett served as Chaplain to the Texas Department of Corrections Walls Unit in Huntsville where his duties included attending executions.  He relates the experience in his book “Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain ”  In addition Kartemquin films produced a 96 minute award winning documentary At the Death House Door in 2008 which follows Rev Pickett’s career.
He will show and discuss this documentary.  Because of the importance of this subject we will dispense with the Usual 45 minutes of Current Events to give you ample time for Q & A with Rev Pickett.

Incidently we are entering the season incorporating Good Friday, Easter, Passover and the Spring Eqinox which may have special significance with regard to life, death and new life for some of us.  Perhaps, this will heighten our awareness.

The book:

Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain – Carroll Pickett  with Carlton Stowers, (2002)
St. Martin’s Press,  ISBN 9780312287177 (Hardcover)

The Documentary:

http://www.kartemquin.com/films/at-the-death-house-door
At the Death House Door follows the remarkable career journey of Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. During that time he presided over 95 executions, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day. The film also tells the story of Carlos De Luna, a convict whose execution affected Pickett more than any other. Pickett firmly believed the man was innocent and two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests he was right.

 

Video: At the Death House Door – IFC Free Trailer and short clips
http://www.ifc.com/atthedeathhousedoor/video.php

If you would like to familiarize yourself further, here are a couple more links

What Good Has Death Done?  by Natalie Pompilio,  JULY 27, 2009,  Interview and Trailer
http://www.obit-mag.com/articles/what-good-has-death-done

Reverend Carroll Pickett, An interview with the author of “Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain.
http://failuremag.com/index.php/site/print/reverend_carroll_pickett/

Reviews of the book
http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=9780312287177#synopses_and_reviews
Former Texas prison chaplain Rev. Carroll Pickett, working with two time Edgar Award-winner and New York Times best selling author Carlton Stowers, provides this eloquent, unflinching look at capital punishment.


Biographical Notes:  Rev. Carroll Lamar Pickett

Victoria College, Victoria, Texas
Austin College, Sherman, Texas —   BA,  Psychology and Bible
Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, Texas —  BD, Doctor of Ministries
1980  Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas  —Doctor of Clinical Pastoral Education   

Some Awards

Honored by the staff and inmates of the Walls Unit for 12 years of outstanding ministry
National Distinguished Graduate Award, Austin Seminary
Resolution of Appreciation, Texas Board of Criminal Justice
1996   National Distinguished Alumnus, Austin College
Tommy Award for the Best Religious Biography
Violet Crown Award, Best Non-Fiction
Peabody Award-Best National Radio Program from NPR
Courage Award-Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty
2009 “Best Documentary Award”, Atlanta Film Festival; “Inspiration Award”, Full Frame Film Festival; “Best of Fest Award”, Britdocs;  Short Listed for the 2009 Academy Awards –At the Death House DoorReading for Extra Credit:

Texas Execution Approaches Without Critical DNA Testing  (note the date)
Posted: March 23, 2010
Texas is moving closer to carrying out the execution of Henry Skinner on March 24, despite the fact that critical evidence from the crime scene, which could point to a different suspect, has not been subjected to DNA testing .  Many of the major state newspapers in Texas have editorialized for a delay to the execution to allow for the DNA testing.  http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/texas-execution-approaches-without-critical-dna-testing

 

Exonerated

Since 1973, 135 people have been exonerated and freed from death row, including 5 people already in 2009.  Some were only freed because of  extraordinary work by individuals outside the criminal justice system. .

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-and-death-penalty#inn-st

 

Texas Judge Rescinds “Death Penalty Is Unconstitutional” Order, But Wants Briefing
Houston state court judge Kevin Fine made news last week when he ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.

He rescinded that order yesterday, but the defense attorneys in the case said he hasn’t changed his mind.

Texas Lawyer: [Defense Attorney Alan] Curry says Fine now wants the parties to brief the issue the judge believes was raised in Green’s motion to hold Article 37.071 unconstitutional and that is: “Is it OK to execute an innocent person so that we can maintain a death penalty?”

http://www.businessinsider.com/texas-judge-rescinds-death-penalty-is-consitutional-order-but-wants-briefing-2010-3


Capital Punishment: Deterrent Effects & Capital Costs

by Jeffrey A. Fagan, Professor of Law & Public Health; Co-Director, Center for Crime, Community, and Law

Capital punishment stirs up fierce debate in the United States. In this essay, Professor Jeff Fagan questions research that supports the long-accepted view of the deterrent effect of capital punishment. States must also come to terms with the fact that each execution can cost between $2.5 million to $5 million, he writes, and ask themselves whether that money can be put to better law enforcement uses. (This is a long essay – you  have gotten most of  the message already.)
http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/communications/reports/summer06/capitalpunish

Deterrence: States Without the Death Penalty Have Had Consistently Lower Murder Rates
The murder rate in non-death penalty states has remained consistently lower than the rate in states with the death penalty, and the gap has grown since 1990.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/deterrence-states-without-death-penalty-have-had-consistently-lower-murder-rates#stateswithvwithout

ALPHABETICAL BY STATE MURDER RATES PER 100,000 PEOPLE

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder-rates-1996-2008

CURRENT EVENTS: Due to time Constraints we will not do “Current Events” this Saturday. However, considering all the excitement in the Capitol this weekend, you want to read what all the excitement was about …

A look at the health care overhaul bill

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – Thu Mar 18, 6:38 pm ET
After century-long fight US enacts health reforms AFP/Getty Images – Health care professionals rally to show support for health care reform in Washington, DC. President Barack …

* Health Care Slideshow:Health Care Slideshow:Health Care
Congressional Democrats have released a final version of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul bill in advance of a House vote planned for Sunday. Some of the main features of the legislation, which makes changes to the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100318/ap_on_go_co/us_health_overhaul_glance_2

The Kaiser Health Reform Gateway: Health Reform
Updated articles and analysis
http://healthreform.kff.org/

Health Reform Subsidy Calculator — Premium Assistance for Coverage in Exchanges/Gateways Share
This tool illustrates premiums and government assistance under the types of reform proposals being considered for people under age 65 who purchase coverage on their own in an Exchange and are not covered through their employer, Medicare or Medicaid. While the proposals considered would not take effect for several years (2013 in the House and 2014 in the Senate), the results are presented in terms of 2009 premium and income levels to enable better comparisons to current circumstances. The tool allows the user to start with the provisions from one of several proposals and examine the impact at different income levels. Advanced settings allow users to change assumptions to show the effect of different policy choices.
http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

Course Information –Spring, Summer Third Saturday SeminarsTo refer to an ancient Chinese saying, “Our world is in interesting times,” and the individual citizens are assaulted with a blinding array of propaganda from every conceivable source. The Third Saturday Seminar is about demystification of what is going on around us. Time will also be spent on current events. (Class will meet on , 4/17 & 5/15. 2 Sessions. No fee. Lone Star College-Montgomery room B102 41710 Sat 4/17-5/15 & 6/19(TBD) 9:30 a.m. – Noon Gibby Public Service AnnouncementS see updated ALL Catalog at: http://www.lonestar.edu/13180.htm Saturday Science Seminars (next meeting 4/24) In collaboration with the Asimov Chapter of the American Humanist Association, this series of science lectures is geared to help promote better understanding of the science involved in issues of current public interest and debate. If you would like know more about the latest scientific data and speculation relating to global climate change or information about the most important new advances in biotechnology, join us for this series led by biotechnology professors, geologists and geophysicists. (Class meets 4/24 & 5/22) 2 Sessions. No Fee.

Lone Star College-Montgomery B102

41709 Sat 4/24 – 5/22 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Gardner
How to Make Real Texas Chili What is Chili? Is it a true Mexican dish? What do cowboys never put in it? We will discuss the origins of chili and describe several different regional recipes. “Wish I had time for just one more bowl of Chili.” – Alleged last words of Kit Carson. Join us as we gain a greater appreciation of the official Texas state food! 1 session. No fee.Lone Star College – Montgomery A10241162 Tues 4/17 (Check) 11a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Hayde Map to Windsor Hills Clubhouse (A on the Map) for this time only
For information about Lone Star College Montgomery : http://www.lonestar.edu/ALL-Montgomery.htm
ALL Course Catalog: http://www.lonestar.edu/13180.htm
Maps:
http://map-it.woodstock.edu/map_pdf/B_floor_1.pdf
http://www.lonestar.edu/maps-montgomery.htm
http://www.lonestar.edu/maps.htm

As usual, if anything in this notice doesn’t work or make sense (It is midnight somewhere), please let me know so I can warn the others.  If the spelling and syntax seems more fractured than usual, chalk it up to the fact I am (still, still) breaking in a new laptop computer (or, perhaps it’s the other way around.) Down with Vista!! Bill Gates is a nebbish! Windows 7? Give me a break!

Hope to see you Saturday.

Best regards,

Curt Gibby
Director, Third Saturday Seminar
(cell)
fax 281-288-8230
gcgconsult (at) n-star.com
http://www.northstarinst.org/TSS/      (REALLY OUT OF DATE)