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SCOTT SIMON, host:

Judge Donald A. McCartin was known as the hanging judge of Orange County when he sat on the Superior Court there from 1978 to 1993. He was proud of the nickname, and sentenced 10 men convicted of murder to die for their crimes. But now, the judge has called on Governor Jerry Brown to commute the sentences of the more than 700 men and women on death row in California. Not because he considers the death penalty cruel punishment for those whove committed murder, but cruel for the families of those theyve killed.

Violence continues in Afghanistan in response to a Florida preacher's destruction of a Quran last month. Riots in the southern city of Kandahar have killed 9 people and wounded scores. Leaders around the world have condemned the violence in northern Afghanistan, where a crowd stormed the UN compound there on Friday, killing 7 international staff.

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SCOTT SIMON, host:

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Last week we spoke with Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa, who hosted the Conservative Principles Conference in Des Moines. Congressman King disagreed with the call of Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana for Republicans to have a truce on social issues. Mr. King said...

It's no surprise that the revolutionary march across the Arab world would find its way to Syria. For the past few weeks, pockets of protest have sprung up in several areas of the country.

Scores of Syrians have been killed or arrested recently in the greatest challenge to President Bashar Assad's 11-year rule. The government there has been able to keep a lid on the situation so far, but it is starting to set off alarm bells in Washington.

When prosecutors violate the law to deprive a person of a fair trial, is vindication enough, or should the prosecutors be held liable for damages?

This week, a bitterly divided U.S. Supreme Court all but closed the door to such lawsuits. The 5-4 ruling came in the case of a New Orleans man who served 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

In December of 1984, Raymond Liuzza Jr., the son of a prominent New Orleans business executive, was shot to death in front of his home. Police, acting on a tip, picked up two men, Kevin Freeman and John Thompson.