[JURIST] California Supreme Court Chief Justice and Republican appointee Ronald George [official profile] said in a Reuters interview Tuesday that the state should execute death row inmates within five years of sentencing or reprieve them, as opposed to waiting for twenty years or more as it does now. This issue has received increased attention in light of the upcoming execution of former Crips [NAGIA backgrounder] gang co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams [advocacy website], who has been on death row since 1981. "If people want to have the death penalty, then I think sufficient resources should be provided to carry out the process in a timely way," George said. "I would think in most instances this should be finalized with either an affirmance or a reversal within perhaps five years, let's say, but not 20." Since 1978, California has executed 11 men, while 48 have died of illness, suicide, or other causes. Reuters has more.