November 9, 2006, From Bob's Desk--
I suppose we can't blame the prosecutor but there has got to be someone whom we can lay the blame on for the tremendous costs of trying a death penalty case in our courts.

Specifically, there is the case against Mr.Sanchez for allegedly killing a 21-year-old father and his three year old daughter.

This happened in February of 2005 and has yet to come to trial. In the meantime, the costs to you and me are skyrocketing.

Look, here's a guy accused of a double murder and he gets a team of attorneys to defend him and another suspect in the murders.

Now here's the rub, the D.A. has 30 days to file intent to seek the death penalty, but the defense can delay the proceedings indefinitely as they have done in this case.

The two defense attorneys in this case were selected from a short list of those capable of trying death penalty cases in Washington State.

The fact that the defense can hold up proceedings for years is ridiculous, but it is part of our ever increasing efforts to protect the guilty at the expense of the victims.

It seems to me that this is a law that has to be changed.

You can't blame the defense attorneys since this is their chance to retire in style, they have already sent us a bill for $857,000 bucks and there is no end in sight.

This same duo cost King County over a million dollars for another case, so they know where the money faucet is.

At the heart of much of this is an effort to get the death penalty off the books in Washington State. Thus far it has been unsuccessful and in the meantime defense attorneys get richer, murders live longer and you and I foot the bill.

I have a solution. What do you say we get a petition on the ballot that says those judges and politicians who are responsible for the delays and the enormous costs, get the bill for the delays and they have to pay the defense attorneys.

I'll bet you that would sure speed things up!