Executing the Innocent

Dana Goldstein notes that the State of Texas is planning to execute Kenneth Foster today even though everyone agrees that he didn't kill anyone: "Kenneth Foster was driving the getaway car during a teenage robbery spree, and watched his companion kill a man 90 feet away from the car where he sat. All the men involved -- including the killer -- have said murder was not a premeditated part of their evening." In Texas, though, it seems that this is good enough to get you the death penalty. If, that is, you don't have a good lawyer. That the defendant in question is black probably didn't help his case either.