Sentencing and Appeals in the McVeigh Case

The execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana

TENTH CIRCUIT DECISION AFFIRMING THE CONVICTION OF TIMOTHY McVEIGH


IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Criminal Action No. 96-CR-68
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
TIMOTHY JAMES McVEIGH,
Defendant.
REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPT
(Sentencing Hearing)

Proceedings before the HONORABLE RICHARD P. MATSCH, Judge, United States District Court
for the District of Colorado, commencing at 10:01 a.m., on the 14th day of August, 1997,
in Courtroom C-204, United StatesCourthouse, Denver, Colorado.

PROCEEDINGS
(In open court at 10:01 a.m.)

THE COURT: Be seated, please.
This is Criminal Case 96-CR-68, United States vs. Timothy James McVeigh.
The matter comes on for the imposition of sentence pursuant to the jury verdict
finding the defendant guilty on all 11 counts of the indictment and the jury's
special findings and recommendation that the defendant be sentenced to death.
Appearing for the Government? Mr.Hartzler?

MR. HARTZLER: With me this morning is Mr. Mackey, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Wilkinson;
behind me is Mr. Connelly, Mr. Orenstein, and Mr. Goelman.

And for defendant, Timothy McVeigh?

MR. JONES: Stephen Jones is here with the defendant, your Honor;and also seated here
as counsel, Mr. Tritico, Ms. Ramsey, Mr. Nigh, Mr. Burr, Ms. Merritt, Ms. Welch,
Ms. Hillerman, Mr. Wyatt, Mr.England, Ms. Derbes, and Ms. Mears.

THE COURT: All right. And Mr. McVeigh is present, of course.

My view is that Rule 32(c) is applicable, even though under the statute the Court
is required to follow the recommendation of the jury with respect to the sentence
to be imposed. But under Rule 32, there is provision for the Court to hear
statements from counsel for the defendant, from the defendant, and also counsel
for the Government. And I intend to follow that rule. Accordingly, I'll call for
any statement from counsel for the defendant.

MR. JONES: Your Honor, I have no statement to make at this time, but it's my
understanding that Mr. McVeigh has a statement to make.

THE COURT: All right. Mr. McVeigh, you have the right to make any statement you wish
to make. Do you wish to make a statement?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor, briefly.

THE COURT: Would you please come to the lectern to make that statement.
You may speak, Mr. McVeigh.

THE DEFENDANT: If the Court please, I wish to use the words of Justice Brandeis
dissenting in Olmstead to speak for me. He wrote, "Our Government is the potent,
the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example."
That's all I have.

THE COURT: All right.

The rule also provides for counsel for the government to have an opportunity
to speak. Mr. Hartzler, do you have any statement to make?

MR. HARTZLER: Thank you, your Honor. We do not.

THE COURT: Then I'm prepared for the imposition of sentence. Mr. McVeigh, will you
please come forward with counsel to the lectern.

Timothy James McVeigh, pursuant to the jury verdict returned on June 2, 1997, finding you
guilty on all11 counts of the indictment, the defendant is adjudged guilty
of each of the following offenses: A conspiracy to usea weapon of mass destruction
as charged in Count One, the use of a weapon of mass destruction as charged
in Count Two, destruction by explosive ascharged in Count Three, and first degree murder
as charged in Counts Four through Eleven.

Pursuant to the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994, appearing in 18 United States
Code Sections 3591 to 3596 and the special findings of the jury returned on June 13, 1997,
and the jury's unanimous vote recommending that the defendant shall be sentenced
to death, it is the judgment of the Court that the defendant,Timothy James McVeigh,
is sentenced to death on each of the 11 counts of the indictment.

Pursuant to the provisions of 18 United States Code Section 3596, it is
ordered that the defendant is committed to the custody of the Attorney General
of the United States until exhaustion of the procedures for appeal of
the judgment of conviction and review of the sentence. When the sentence is
to be implemented, the Attorney General shall release defendant to the custody
of a United States marshal, who shall supervise implementation of the sentence
in the manner prescribed by the law ofthe State of Colorado.
As required by 18 United States Code Section 3013, it is ordered the defendant
shall pay a special assessment of $550, which shall be due immediately.

Mr. McVeigh, you have the right to appeal the judgment of conviction and for
a review of the sentence. To exercise that right, you must file a notice of
appeal with the clerk of this court within ten days from this
day. If you fail to file a notice of appeal within that ten-day period, you
would lose your right of appeal.

You have had several counsel appointed to represent you in this case
and throughout the trial. The counsel have the duty to proceed, if you wish
to file a notice of appeal, on your behalf, and to undertake the procedures
necessary to perfect the appeal.

Do you understand your right of appeal?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir, I do.

THE COURT: And do you have any question with respect to the procedure to be followed?

THE DEFENDANT: Not with this court, your Honor.

THE COURT: Very well. The -- you wrote to me at one time, Mr. McVeigh,
you will recall, with respect to counsel to represent you on appeal.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: I responded to your letter with a letter of mine. I have been informed through
the clerk of this court that the media, or some persons in the media, have asked for copies
of your letter to me and my letter to you. And of course, copies went to Mr. Jones of both
letters. Do you have any objection to my releasing your letter to me and my letter to you?

THE DEFENDANT: I have no objection to that, your Honor.

THE COURT: And Mr. Jones?

MR. JONES: I have no objection, your Honor.

THE COURT: Then those letters will be released to -- copies of those letters released to the
media, of course to counsel for the Government.

All right. The defendant is remanded to the custody of the Attorney General through
the Marshal's Service as ordered.

Court is in recess.
(Recess at 10:09 a.m.)


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