IL_BOW_MAN even though there is good reason to agree with you, that fast of an execution of sentence would be impossible. Especially in the case of as you give the example, the death penalty. There is always the chance of mitigating circumstances arising.

Take for example this case. Even though beyond a shadow of a doubt he was found guilty, what if it was later learned that one of the jurors was not qualified because of residency, family relations, criminal history, or a number of other reasons. This is unfortunately valid grounds for a re-trial in many states.

What if later it was learned the State with held valid or pertinent evidence which would have changed the severity of the final punishment to something less then the death penalty. This again, happens all the times. That is the reason for such delays and the reason for court appeals.

Granted all of this is a thorn in the side of the tax payer and the law enforcement community, but it is the one way in which we can guarantee fair and legal justice for all under the present court legalsystem.

It is for some of these reasons, and reason of moral grounds that many States have removed or greatly modified the circumstances of the death penalty on their books and are instead using the life in prison without the possibility of parole.