News

Senators Hancock and Leno File Legal Brief Against Death Penalty

Published

12 years ago

March 16, 2015

Senator Loni Hancock, Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, has filed a legal brief supporting the elimination of California’s death penalty.

Senator Hancock was joined in filing the brief by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and former Assembly Member Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).

Senator Mark Leno

The brief was filed on behalf of Ernest Dewayne Jones, who last year had his death sentence overturned by Federal District Court Judge Cormac Carney.

In his ruling overturning Jones’ death sentence, Judge Carney declared California’s death penalty system to be unconstitutional.

Hancock’s legal brief, known as an Amicus Curiae (“Friend of the Court”), was filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco in support of Judge Carney’s ruling.

“California’s death penalty is an expensive failure and not fixable,” Senator Hancock said. “As Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I have reviewed dozens of bills intended to address problems with the death penalty. Each of these bills presented serious due process and constitutional concerns, and many would have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to implement.”

“After reviewing many in-depth studies, I have come to the conclusion that California’s death penalty is not more effective in deterring crime than a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole,” Senator Hancock added. “California taxpayers have already spent more than $4 billion on the death penalty since 1978. I believe that public safety would be better served by investing those dollars in programs to reduce crime.”

Senator Hancock said that California remains at risk of executing an innocent  person. “Wrongful executions have already happened in other states. Attempting to ‘speed up’ or ‘reform’ the existing system will only increase the possibility of error and will cost hundreds of millions of dollars more,” Senator Hancock said.

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Oakland Post: Week of October 21 – 27, 2026

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2 days ago

October 25, 2026

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Community

Mayor Barbara Lee Holds Special State of the City Address in Deep East Oakland

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14. The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highli

Published

1 week ago

October 19, 2026

Post News Group

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, left. moderated a community chat with (l.to r.) Selena Wilson, CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center; Carolyn “CJ” Johnson, CEO of the Black Cultural Zone; Dr. Noha Aboelata, CEO of Roots Health Center and Greg Hodge, CEO of the Brotherhood of Elders.

By Special to The Post

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14.

The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highlight the work underway, and look ahead to what neighbors, local businesses, youth, funders, community organizations, and partners can accomplish together.

Held at the Roots Community Health/Parker Elementary School Campus at 7929 Ney Ave., the event was emceed by special guest Mark Curry, Oakland native, comedian, and actor.

Lee shared how Rise East and the 40×40 Council have brought together the knowledge, relationships, and resources of people and organizations committed to East Oakland.

Residents bring lived experience, community organizations bring trusted relationships and philanthropy, and businesses bring resources and opportunity, she said, then turned to the government’s role: public investment, services and policy.

But, Lee intoned, City Hall has a responsibility to help connect those efforts.

“I am committed to listening to residents, working across departments and sectors, and helping open doors to opportunity. We must connect neighborhood priorities to the decisions we make about housing, economic development, safety, health and our young people.

City Hall “must be accountable for the results,” Lee said. “The measure of success is what families experience: greater stability, more opportunity and a stronger sense that they belong and have a future here.

“Tonight is an opportunity to listen to the leaders doing this work, learn what is making a difference and identify where we can do more together,” the mayor said.

Lee went on to moderate a ‘fireside chat’ on the theme: Building Oakland’s Future Together — From Neighborhood Investment to Community Empowerment with: