Ashley Michael, Attorney at Law – Last Words of the Condemned

Please check out this slideshow of Last Words of people about to be executed.

What strikes me is that there are basically three versions of remarks in the slideshow: appealing to some higher/religious power; apologizing and/or accepting responsibility; and maintaining innocence.

As to the religious statements, I am sure there are some people on death row (and in prison in general) that truly do explore and embrace a religion or higher power. I am in no way trying to mock their beliefs. However, I am somewhat skeptical. Shortly after I began practicing law, an older lawyer I know told me that he thinks Jesus must live in the Jefferson County Jail, because everyone who goes there finds Him.

I applaud those men and women who accept responsibility for the crimes they committed; I can only hope that it helps in the healing process for the families of those they harmed.

My heart absolutely breaks for those maintaining their innocence. I am not so naïve as to think they are all innocent. But the thought that we have executed even one wrongly convicted human being makes me sick. We, as a society, cannot right that wrong. And we, as a society, should hang our heads in shame at the thought.