Does Michelle Thomas Apparent Lack of Judgment Warrant A Historical Review Of Crime And Punishment As Seen From The Electric Chair? Not For Her But...

Legal Pub has learned of a Texas woman who allegedly tried to kill her common law husband because he was not good in bed. (NO, THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION FOR VIAGRA SPAM!) Apparently Michelle Thomas, age 26, got upset when her man failed to please her in the bedroom. Michelle allegedly expressed her displeasure by stabbing her 28 year old partner with scissors. Fortunately, the victim survived and provided his allegations to police for investigation. Did Michelle fail to realize the serious consequences of expressing one's displeasure in a violent fashion? Readers know what can happen when women take justice into their own hands in the bedroom. BELLIVEAU & SEWELL LINK. If Michell failed to read Legal Pub's JOHN LOTTER LINK , perhaps she might want to read "20 Criminals Executed in The Chair" found at http://www.criminaljusticeuniversity.net/blog/2010/20-criminals-executed-in-the-chair/.

Again, Michelle is lucky that her boyfriend did not die. In fact, he refused to press charges despite cuts to his chest, knee and thumb. However, Michelle was still charged with aggravated assault which is a felony in Texas. (Michelle denies guilt and allegedly contends that her man was drunk and she was just defending herself.) But for future reference, as the above referenced article points out, the electric chair is still alive and well in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. Furthermore, Texas is no safe haven from capital punishment. Under Texas law executions are done by intravenous injections. Texas does not specify the substances to be used but usually it is a three-drug combination of sodium thiopental (which sedates the offender), pancuronium bromide (a muscle relaxant which collapses the diaphragm and lungs), and potassium chloride (which stops the heartbeat). At a prescription medicine cost of about $86.08 per offender, it takes about seven minutes to complete punishment for a horrible lapse in judgment.

Twenty notorious executions including Ted Bundy (January 24, 1989), Ruth Snyder (January 12, 1928), Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (June 19, 1953), Leon Czolgosz (October 29, 1901), Giuseppe Zangara (March 20, 1933), Ferdinando Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (1927), Hans Schmidt (February 8, 1916) and Bruno Hauptmann (April 3, 1936) are mentioned in the feature article. Enough of a deterrence?

Keep in mind, all suspects are presumed to be innocent. While Michelle Thomas, will not face the death penalty, she may face jail time up to twenty years for the aggravated assault charge if convicted. In the mean time, she is presumed innocent. For her sake, let's hope she has a good lawyer and a good defense.

Update 5-10-10: In a move that may have a substantial impact on future capital punishment cases, President Obama has named Elena Kagan, the current solicitor general, to be the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Kagan, 50, is a former dean of Harvard Law School. If confirmed, she will be the third woman on the current court. Kagan will replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.