Judge Lewis Quoted on Capital Case Representation

On March 18, 2007, Judge Timothy Lewis was quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer article “Old Pa. Death Sentences Getting New Day in Court.” The article discusses the tendency of defense lawyers to ineffectively represent clients in murder trials, which may prevent defendants from receiving fair trials. This becomes especially important when the death sentence becomes a possible sanction for the defendant. Brian Thomas, found guilty of murder in 1986, will receive a new sentencing hearing due to his former attorney’s failure to communicate his history with mental illness. “Allowing defendants in capital cases to be represented by inexperienced lawyers with no expertise in the death penalty reflects a serious breakdown in the legal system. It’s a real slap in the face to the notion of justice,” Judge Lewis commented.