U.S. v. Sampson, CR. 01-10384-MLW.
| Decision Date | 29 January 2004 |
| Docket Number | No. CR. 01-10384-MLW.,CR. 01-10384-MLW. |
| Citation | 300 F.Supp.2d 278 |
| Parties | UNITED STATES of America v. Gary Lee SAMPSON |
| Court | U.S. District Court — District of Massachusetts |
The court is entering the attached Judgment and Order which, pursuant to the jury's verdicts and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3591-3597, requires that defendant Gary Sampson be executed for the carjacking resulting in the death of Philip McCloskey and the carjacking resulting in the death of Jonathan Rizzo. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 3596(a), the court has designated New Hampshire as the state in which Sampson shall be executed. Therefore, Sampson shall be executed in New Hampshire in the manner prescribed by the law of New Hampshire — by lethal injection or, if that is impractical, by hanging. See 18 U.S.C. § 3596(a); N.H.Rev.Stat. § 630.5 XIII, XIV.
The government requested that the court order that Sampson be executed at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana where the Department of Justice has established a federal "death row." While the court has seriously considered the preference and convenience of the government, it has decided that there are compelling considerations that make New Hampshire the more appropriate venue for Sampson's execution. The Attorney General may, however, imprison Sampson in Indiana or elsewhere until Sampson is released to the United States Marshal who will be responsible for his execution in New Hampshire.
As explained below, there are essentially two important reasons that the court has selected New Hampshire, rather than Indiana, as the site for Sampson's execution. First, requiring that Sampson be executed in New Hampshire will, to the maximum extent possible, consolidate all litigation concerning his case in the First Circuit and thus serve the interests of justice. Second, the execution of a human being by the state is perhaps the most solemn and significant act a government can perform. It should not be reduced to an invisible, bureaucratic function. There is, therefore, a strong public interest in Sampson's execution being as accessible as possible to the people most interested in it and impacted by it. Sampson's execution in New Hampshire will serve that public interest.
It is clear that the court has the authority to designate the state in which Sampson will be executed. 18 U.S.C. § 3596(a) states that:
A person who has been sentenced to death pursuant to this chapter shall be committed to the custody of the Attorney General until exhaustion of the procedures for appeal of the judgment of conviction and for review of the sentence. When the sentence is to be implemented, the Attorney General shall release the person sentenced to death to the custody of a United States marshal, who shall supervise implementation of the sentence in the manner prescribed by the law of the State in which the sentence is imposed. If the law of the State does not provide for implementation of a sentence of death, the court shall designate another State, the law of which does provide for the implementation of a sentence of death, and the sentence shall be implemented in the latter State in the manner prescribed by such law.
(Emphasis added). Therefore, the express terms of the statute unambiguously provide that where, as here, the law of the state in which a federal death sentence has been imposed does not authorize death as a penalty for any crime, the court has the authority and responsibility to designate another state, whose law does include the death penalty, as the place for the defendant's execution.
18 U.S.C. § 3597(a) provides that:
A United States marshal charged with supervising the implementation of a sentence of death may use appropriate State or local facilities for the purpose, may use the services of an appropriate State or local official or of a person such an official employs for the purpose, and shall pay the costs thereof in an amount approved by the Attorney General.
Thus, the Federal Death Penalty Act expressly contemplates that a federal death sentence may be implemented in a state that does not have a federal prison by authorizing the use of state or local facilities. The Marshal may also use his or her own personnel, hire a local executioner and others, or utilize personnel specially employed by state or local officials.
Sampson intends to appeal the verdicts that have resulted in his death sentences in this case. The First Circuit will decide his appeal. New Hampshire is in the First Circuit. Indiana is in the Seventh Circuit.
If Sampson's death sentences are affirmed on appeal, it is foreseeable there will be additional litigation. Sampson may file a petition in this court, under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, challenging the legality of the sentence. See Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts, Rule 4(a) (); United States v. Barrett, 178 F.3d 34, 50 n. 10 (1st Cir.1999) (). Sampson may also seek certain relief concerning the conditions of his confinement or other issues pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the jurisdiction in which he is confined prior to the date of his execution. See Barrett, 178 F.3d at 50 n. 10 (); United States v. Hammer, 121 F.Supp.2d 794, 800 (M.D.Pa.2000). In addition, third parties may institute litigation relating to Sampson's execution. See, e.g., Entertainment Network, Inc. v. Lappin, 134 F.Supp.2d 1002 (S.D.Ind.2001) ().
It will serve the interests of justice if, to the maximum extent possible, all litigation relating to Sampson is initiated in District Courts whose decisions will be appealed to the First Circuit. The First Circuit will be fully familiar with Sampson's case and, therefore, able to address any appeals in an informed and efficient manner. The litigation of foreseeable issues concerning Sampson's execution will also provide it with the opportunity to develop and apply the law relating to federal capital cases involving crimes committed within its jurisdiction in the way that it deems to be proper, which may differ from the way other Circuits interpret and apply the same law.
Massachusetts, where the crimes and trial that generated Sampson's death sentences occurred, is the state that has the strongest interest in this case, including in the punishment to be imposed on Sampson for those crimes. However, the law of Massachusetts does not provide the death penalty for any offense and, therefore, federal law prohibits Sampson's execution in Massachusetts. See 18 U.S.C. § 3596(a).
Of all other states, New Hampshire has a uniquely strong interest in the punishment imposed on Sampson. Sampson has admitted that, after murdering Philip McCloskey and Jonathan Rizzo in Massachusetts, he murdered Robert Whitney in New Hampshire. The murder of Robert Whitney was an aggravating factor that contributed to the verdicts resulting in the death sentences imposed in this case. Sampson has also been charged in New Hampshire for committing that crime. See Jan. 26, 2004 Tr. at 88. The execution of Sampson in New Hampshire will both moot that state's case against him and vindicate its interest in his being punished for murdering Robert Whitney.
New Hampshire also borders Massachusetts. Sampson now has two lawyers from Massachusetts. It is likely that at least some of his post-conviction attorneys will reside in Massachusetts. They will foreseeably need to communicate with Sampson as the date of his execution approaches and final legal challenges are made. Designating New Hampshire, rather than Indiana, as the state for Sampson's execution should facilitate his attorneys' representation of him.
The government proposes that three of Sampson's adult friends or relatives be allowed to attend his execution. Sampson's mother lives in New Hampshire. The sole witness who testified about the adverse impact that Sampson's execution would have on her was one of his former wives, Karen Alexander, who lives in New Hampshire. Karen Alexander is the mother of Sampson's autistic child. It is doubtful that she would be able to travel to Indiana for Sampson's execution. Thus, requiring that Sampson be executed in New Hampshire rather than Indiana should make it possible for his relatives or others to be present if they choose to attend.
New Hampshire should also be a more convenient venue for the families and friends of Philip McCloskey and Jonathan Rizzo. Large numbers of them regularly attended Sampson's trial. Many of them may wish to be present for his execution, or at least be in the vicinity to provide emotional support for those who do attend. It would probably be difficult for many of them to travel to Indiana, particularly if last minute stays, which often cause the postponement of scheduled executions, require more than one trip.
New Hampshire would also be a more convenient site for the Massachusetts media, which has intensely covered the Sampson case. The verdicts that resulted in the death sentences in this case were front-page news in each of the Boston newspapers. See Shelley Murphy, "Death for Sampson Verdict Makes Him State's First Since 1947 to Face Execution," The Boston Globe, Dec. 24, 2003, at A1; J.M. Lawrence, "Sampson to be Executed," Boston Herald, Dec. 24, 2003, at 1. There is a public interest in facilitating the Massachusetts media's ability to report on this case. Requiring that Sampson be executed in New Hampshire rather than in Indiana should serve that interest.
As reflected in the government's proposed Judgment and...
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