An Open Letter to Judge Kent Cattani on his remarks about Jodi Arias

My attention has been drawn to an article published at http://www.judges.org/ “The National Judicial College” titled “Jody Arias and the Cost of Seeking the Death Penalty” by Hon. Kent Cattani and Hon. Paul J. McMurdie.

The article states “Judge Kent Cattani was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals on February 9, 2013”.

The article starts:

Recently, Arizona was in the national spotlight for the sensational trial of Jodi Arias, who killed her former boyfriend. She was headline news locally, and the topic of national debate for Nancy Grace and other court watchers.

Arias’ guilt was never in doubt. The only question in the case was whether she should spend the rest of her life in prison or be executed for her horrific crime. Two juries could not resolve the issue, and she was ultimately sentenced to life without the possibility of release.

Judge Cattani:

(1) I disagree, the guilt of Arias was in doubt, and is in doubt. So do supporters who have raised over $90,000 to help Jodi appeal.

(2) Have you studied the evidence in detail? Are you aware that there are many wrongful convictions in death penalty cases, and that Debra Milke was recently freed after more than 20 years on Arizona death row?

(3) Are you aware that despite lengthy cross-examination, there is no proof that the testimony of Jodi Arias, that she killed Alexander in self-defense, was untrue? And that her attorney Jennifer Willmott stated after trial that Jodi told the truth at trial.

(4) Given that there is an outstanding appeal to your court, should you be making such public statements, and are you not displaying a breathtaking level of prejudice? I suggest your limited grasp of the facts in this case is betrayed by your mis-spelling of Miss Arias’ first name, both in the title and the body of the article.

(5) I earnestly hope that Jodi Arias may have a fair appeal heard by an unprejudiced court.

(6) I invite you to study the evidence at the website https://freejodi.wordpress.com/.

Sincerely,
George Barwood,
Gloucester, UK

PS: on September 4, 2015, the defense filed a motion : “Ms. Arias asks that the Court of Appeals be disqualified from further consideration of her appeal and that the appeal be transferred to the Arizona Supreme Court.”

Links

• 2014 Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct
• How-to-File-a-Complaint

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