Don't Miss This: Holiday Luncheon Monday, December 3

This year's holiday luncheon will be on Monday, December 3, at the Grille on Laurel. Dramatist Barbara Rinella will present "Einstein: His Life and Universe," a biography by William Isaacson. Details are available here.

Death Penalty: The League of Women Voters Panel

By Carol Gilbert

Lake County League presented a panel of 21st century abolitionists on Wednesday, October 17th: death penalty abolitionists. The State of Illinois’ recent moratorium on executions is not a moratorium on death sentences; defendants are still being sentenced to death. The panelists also stated the general public is less and less comfortable with the verifiable facts about the death penalty. Nationally 125 people have been found innocent after execution, and the mentally ill are significantly over-represented in death row populations. The panelists agreed that death sentences often do not satisfy victims' families, either, because Illinois’ lengthy several-decades appeals process provides less certainty than life without parole verdicts.

The LWVIL position on the death penalty is to support its abolition. Reasons cited include its uneven application, its lack of deterrent value, and its violation of human rights in general, and specifically, for the innocent people who are executed. The panelists supported these concerns anecdotally, saying that even citizens who cite law and order concerns do favor the reallocation of an enormous capital punishment budget to more effective parts of the justice system. For instance, nationally, 200 death row residents have been exonerated by DNA evidence. The panelists were heartened by the increasing public support for abolition in the last decade. They were also emphatic that the US tradition of state-sanctioned killing is considered barbaric in countries with industrialized societies.

In Illinois, in 2002, The Governor’s Commission on Capital Punishment stated “The Commission was unanimous in its belief that no system, given human nature and frailties, could ever be devised or constructed that would work perfectly and guarantee absolutely that no innocent person is ever again sentenced to death.” Panelists were Chuck Hutchcraft, an Illinois acitivist who initiated the Wednesday program, Jane Bohman, Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death penalty, Charles Hoffman, who is lead Defender for the State of Illinois in death penalty appeals, and Janet Kittlaus, Issues Specialist for the Illinois League, and Evanston’s LWV. The Evanston League’s success in achieving a LWVIL position in 2001 was followed by adoption of the LWVUS position in 2006.

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LWVIL 2007 Convention Update

By Carol Gilbert

The 53rd State Convention, “Strengthening Our Roots,” did not disappoint. Attending as delegates from the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area League were Liese Kant, Robbyn McFadden, and Carol Gilbert. Jane Partridge represented Lake County League.

Also in attendance with us was Liese Kant’s daughter Logan, who was a summer intern with State League. Logan was often the tech guru seated in front of the delegate body overseeing the powerpoint screen. Logan says, “The whole experience was empowering ... seeing everyone had something to say about immigration.” Logan also enjoyed her summer with the State League office, saying, “In a small office you really get to see why people love their job so much.”

The most-debated issue at convention was the proposed immigration position that resulted from the State League’s recent study. LWV-LFLB’s Robbyn McFadden addressed the convention delegates, recounting personal experiences that illustrate the fuzzy law regarding undocumented residents, particularly unlicensed uninsured drivers. Robbyn cited problems created by “uneven practices in interpreting and implementing existing laws.” Liese Kant also participated in the debate on the convention floor. Liese questioned the advisability of streamlining business permits for undocumented immigrants. Liese stated that consistency under the law should be our uppermost concern, and “when you bend or change laws to favor a group you alter the fabric of our entire society.”

Saturday night’s dinner and two engaging speakers rejuvenated the delegates after a full day of business. Political humorist Aaron Freeman regaled us with samplings from his Kosher Chitterlings one-man show. Another headliner, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, gave us a personal snapshot of his public life, including the changes necessitated by wife Sandi’s election as Chicago’s 7th Ward Alderman.

Saturday afternoon’s plenary session debate on immigration resumed late Saturday evening at a strategy caucus. Jane Partridge, who headed the immigration study for LWV-LFLB, attended the caucus and listened intently. Sounding very much like the former schoolteacher she is, Jane quietly commented that some more homework might have shortened the late-night debate. Jane says, “The uneven treatment of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, amply demonstrates the need for a League position” and comprehensive legislative action. Some language modifications were made to the proposed immigration position in the wee hours Saturday night, and the revised motion passed on Sunday morning.

Also on Sunday’s agenda was a not-recommended program item, the Judicial Evaluation Commission position proposed by McLean County LWV. Though Illinois has a bar-supported judicial advisory committee, its recommendations are confidential. The McLean County study characterizes the lack of credible nonpartisan information on judges’ performance as a huge hole in the Illinois electoral process. The proposed study was not recommended for adoption as a position by the state board, but the motion sponsors amended their request to ask for consideration as an action item instead. LWV-LFLB member Carol Gilbert spoke to the convention floor in support of the motion, saying that McLean County’s firm funding and crisp protocol is “about as good as it gets,” and the convention delegates agreed.

Directions from the floor at the close of convention included requests to begin strategic planning for the 2010 redistricting, to redefine concurrence for local League action, and to make website improvements. Jane Partridge also asked LWVIL to disseminate information about the Real ID Act, and how the national card will change both privacy and security.

October 2007 Update: Jane Partridge says stay tuned. LWVIL has passed its immigration position, but LWVUS is seeking states’ consensus for a national position on immigration. Input from local leagues is needed by February 1, so a date for a local presentation and discussion will be scheduled soon.

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