Harry A. Blackmun Quotes

Everybody believes that capital punishment is wrong, but when they look at certain cases, they're quick to say, 'Put them to death,' or scream 'capital punishment.'

'Til the infallibility of human judgements shall have been proved to me, I shall demand the abolition of the penalty of death.

The death penalty issue is obviously a divisive one. But whether one is for or against, you can not deny the basic illogic - if we know the system is flawed, if we know there are innocent people on Death Row, then until the system is reformed, should we not abandon the death penalty to protect those who are innocent?

I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.

Other states are trying to abolish the death penalty... mine's putting in an express lane.

I don't get any damn pleasure out of the death penalty and I never have .... If they abolished it tomorrow, I'd go out and get drunk in celebration.

I feel morally and intellectually required to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed.

It has become increasingly difficult for states or the federal government to apply the death penalty. But why even try? Nothing is accomplished, and while the chances of making a mistake are now diminished - DNA can prove guilt as well as innocence - life in prison is a worthy substitute.

I don't agree with capital punishment as it is now, because too often mistakes are made. But I think that if you eliminate the mistakes, then there are times when it is justified.

I support the death penalty. But I also think there has to be no margin for error.

The death penalty is discriminatory and does not do anything about crime.

I'm actually really opposed to the death penalty.

I am against the death penalty.

When a mad man is executed, it is a miserable spectacle, both against law, and of extreme inhumanity and cruelty, and can be no example to others.

If we are to abolish the death penalty, I should like to see the first step taken by our friends the murders.

The death penalty saves lives.

I'm pro-death. I believe in the death penalty. Let's get on with it.

Malcolm is worthy of death.

I will make Mississippi the capital of capital punishment.

I am a proponent of capital punishment. I am not a proponent of capital torture.

I want to see if she is serious about the death penalty.

The system of death-penalty justice is compromised and inequitable.

I believe that the death penalty is an effective penalty.

I hope that America will do away with the death penalty. I truly believe we are better than that.

The death penalty, I think, is a terrible scar on American justice, especially the concept of equal justice under law, but also of due process. And it goes state by state, and it's different in different states.