North Carolina: Justice Obstructed

Regarding your Nov. 18 article "Correction officials, doctors set to argue:"

The group that licenses and sanctions physicians has challenged the state concerning a doctor's participation in the lethal injection process. For those who weren't there, both parties agreed that the state statutes require a doctor's presence at all executions.

I recently witnessed arguments made in the Justice Building in Raleigh that reduced the N.C. Medical Board's case against the N.C. Department of Correction concerning a doctor's role in executions to a disagreement over the word "present." Lawyers (for the doctors) meant to suggest that "present" the way that it is used by students during roll call should mean only "here" while failing to acknowledge that, as long as a student is in the classroom, behaviors such as not paying attention or sleeping are not usually tolerated. I submit that once you enter a classroom, there is also a shared expectation (between teachers and students) that each will respond or be available for the tasks at hand (participate).

2 years have passed since the last execution of a capital murderer in North Carolina. Justice remains obstructed. The courts have decided little. In the meantime or until this matter is settled, so much for public safety -- and for justice.

Wayne Uber----Chapel Hill

(source: Letter to the Editor, News & Observer)