AG office: Execution should not be stopped

The Clarion-Ledger, 7/8/8

When Dale Leo Bishop stood in court eight years ago to be sentenced for his role in the brutal murder of a friend, he asked for the death penalty and thanked the judge when he got it. Now he’s scheduled to die July 23 and wants a higher court to spare his life.

After his 2000 conviction, Bishop waived his right to be sentenced by a jury. He said he deserved to die and declined to provide evidence that might have persuaded the judge to let him live.

Bishop’s new attorneys now argue in court documents that lifelong mental problems prevented the 34-year-old death row inmate from making rational decisions about the case. Bishop also claims his former lawyers failed him.