“Do you think that spending 2,000 hours on one death penalty case is a worthwhile use of Professor Millemann’s time?”

I posed that question to Scott Shellenberger, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney and a leading supporter of the death penalty.

In my testimony, I had again made the point that the extraordinary amount of time spent litigating and legislating death penalty cases could be put to far better use on other criminal justice issues that prevent crime and make people safer where they live, where they work, and where they play.

Following me to the witness table, Prof. Millemann noted the time he had spent handling the appeals after his client’s court trial. Hence my question.

Mr. Shellenberger paused for at least 10 seconds before responding.

“No one in my office has ever spent that much time prosecuting a capital case,” he responded, in part.

He did not answer my question. I don’t think he could.

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My LBJ-style vote count of the Judiciary Committee on the death penalty has gone very well.

But after today’s hearing, I put a new roll call list in my breast pocket.

I’m going to take the count again. Just to be sure.