Wow. Tookie.

[glatt]

I've heard some judges before say that when they hand down a sentence, they are not judging the person, or the worth of the person. Instead, they are judging the actions of that person. Or more specifically, the actions in question.

His actions were judged to be deserving of the death penalty. What he has done with his life since then is irrelevant. He can't erase his past actions, he can only add additional actions. They can be good ones or bad ones.

If he were up for parole, his actions since then would come in to play. We as a society, would care if he was a decent guy before we release him.

I'm personally against the death penalty, and think he should have gotten life in prison in the first place. But he didn't. I'm also pleased that he has, by many accounts, become a changed man. But under the current system of laws in California, and my limited knowledge of his case, I think his case is being handled correctly.