Cost of Death Penalty Litigation

Excerpt from an interview with Michael Tigar in Austin, Texas on August 1-2, 2016.

In this clip, Tigar points to the high cost of death penalty litigation as an explanation for why prosecutors now seek the death penalty at a lower rate. He makes reference to Terry Nichols, currently serving life in prison for his involvement in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Tigar served as Nichols’ defense attorney and most likely influenced the judge’s decision to reduce Nichols’ sentence from the death penalty to life in prison.