I should add that this particular case took two and a half years to wend its way through the system to the actual trial because of all the extra evidentiary hearings that were required. In addition to those, we held quite a few hearings on the appropriate amount of media access to the evidence pre-trial, since we were still hoping to try the case in our own county (proved to be impossible, despite a gag order imposed as well as a confidential, non-public preliminary hearing).
That's another aspect of cost that is frequently overlooked: The minute the case becomes a death case, it's a spectator sport for the community and the media become inordinately interested. It's very hard to preserve a defendant's right to an impartial jury when everyone in town knows the case backwards and front. Much more security becomes necessary, too. All these extras cost.
That's another aspect of cost that is frequently overlooked: The minute the case becomes a death case, it's a spectator sport for the community and the media become inordinately interested. It's very hard to preserve a defendant's right to an impartial jury when everyone in town knows the case backwards and front. Much more security becomes necessary, too. All these extras cost.
