I just stumbled across the forthcoming book (fall, 2009)" The Last Lawyer: The Fight to Save Death Row Inmates, by John Temple. It is not yet published so I have no copy and no reviews. This is an FYI post without endorsement either way. Below are a few snippets from the books longer description that is available at the book link above. It does mention the issue of mental retardation.
I plan to do some web research to see if I can find the formal court decision for this case (Bo Jones). If anyone has a pdf copy of the final decision, or can direct me to a URL where it is available, it would be much appreciated.
I plan to do some web research to see if I can find the formal court decision for this case (Bo Jones). If anyone has a pdf copy of the final decision, or can direct me to a URL where it is available, it would be much appreciated.
- The Last Lawyer chronicles Rose's decade-long defense of Bo Jones, a North Carolina farmhand convicted of a 1987 murder.
- Rose called it his most frustrating case in twenty-five years, and it was one that received scant attention from judges or journalists. The Jones case highlights the thorniest issues surrounding capital punishment, including inadequate defense, mental retardation, mental illness, and sketchy witness testimony. Yet for many years, Rose's advocacy gained no traction, and Bo Jones came within three days of his execution.
Technorati Tags: psychology, forensic psychology, criminal psychology, criminal justice, North Carolina, death penalty, capital punihsment, Bo Jones, lawyers
