Fighting the Death Penalty

“Fighting the Death Penalty is a compelling mosaic of reasoned argumentation and evidence in opposition to capital punishment. Compiled by Wanger—who is both historian and historymaker—over the course of his half-century struggle to perpetuate and reaffirm Michigan’s 1846 repudiation of the death penalty, this volume offers enduring lessons for a nation still not fully committed to following Michigan’s lead.”
—James R. Acker, Distinguished Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, SUNY at Albany, and coeditor of America’s Experiment with Capital Punishment
 

Wanger, lawyer, legal scholar, and Michigan's foremost authority on the death penalty, presents readers with an insightful history of the topic in this compilation of essays and speeches. His analyses clearly show his commitment to facts and data rather than merely employing an emotional or ideological approach in questioning the state's imposition of capital punishment. The volume offers 40 of the author's essays in chronological order that highlight his life-long attempt to inform and persuade the public and opinion leaders about why this supreme penalty should be rejected. Fighting the Death Penalty is a valuable resource—suitable for both reference and circulating collections—that will significantly aid novice and seasoned scholars researching the controversies of this centuries-old debate. ~C. A. Groves, Middle Tennessee State University, CHOICE Connect

"The well-designed 230–page book offers clear insights into the subject . . . While repetitious at times because of the inclusion of his judicial testimonies, it's not boring, presenting numerous arguments relating to the subject." ~Ray Walsh, Lansing State Journal