The Trentonian

November 1, 2002

New Jersey Judge Says Death Penalty "Not Worth the Effort"

    In a recent ruling denying death row inmate Ambrose Harris a new trial, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Bill Mathesius, a former chief prosecutor and county executive, stated that New Jersey's death penalty should be abandoned because of the cost of the legal process to taxpayers.

   "That process, and Ambrose Harris in particular, are simply not worth the effort," he said. New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who opposes capital punishment, later added, "It's cheaper to give someone life imprisonment without parole. We don't execute them anyway. I see no reason why we shouldn't abolish it." New Jersey has not carried out an execution since its death penalty was reinstated in 1982.