Press releases

(ILLINOIS, March 9, 2011) — Today, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation repealing the death penalty, making Illinois the fourth states in as many years to abandon capital punishment.

New Hampshire’s death penalty study commission, which started its investigation in October 2009, just concluded its final hearing.

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press release - NH Study Commission wraps up.pdf

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed SB-279 this week, placing severe limitations on the kind of evidence that can be used in death penalty cases.

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press release - MD restricts death penalty.pdf

NEW MEXICO — Today, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill repealing the death penalty.

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press release - NM repeals death penalty.pdf

Today, the St.

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press release - St. Louis Alderman recommend repeal.pdf

The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission today released its findings and recommended that the New Jersey legislature replace the death penalty with life without parole. The 13-member Commission was empanelled as part of legislation that placed a one-year moratorium on executions in New Jersey pending the outcome of the study.

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press release - NJ report recommends abolition Jan 2007.pdf

TRENTON – New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey today signed S-709/A-2347, legislation requiring an immediate moratorium on all executions in New Jersey and creating a study commission that will undertake a comprehensive examination of the state’s current death penalty system. The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 30-6 on December 15th, was approved Monday by a vote of 55-21 in the New Jersey Assembly. Codey’s action marks the first time that a State has enacted legislation imposing a moratorium on its death penalty.

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press release - NJ moratorium bill signed.pdf

The New Jersey Senate voted today to suspend all executions in the state and examine flaws in the death penalty system. The bill now moves to the Assembly for a scheduled January vote, where it is expected to pass. Once the bill becomes law, New Jersey will become the first state to legislatively mandate a suspension of executions. Illinois and Maryland have both imposed gubernatorial moratoria.

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press release - NJ Senate passes mora.pdf

Missouri prosecutor Jennifer Joyce announced yesterday that she would reopen the case of Larry Griffin, who was executed in 1995 for the drive-by shooting of Quintin Moss. Joyce told the Associated Press yesterday that attorneys for the victim's family along with the NAACP Legal and Educational Fund approached her with new evidence in the case, and that she was particularly moved that family members of the victim had also expressed concern that the wrong person was executed.

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press release - Griffin case reopened.pdf

ALBANY, NY (April 12, 2005) – The New York State Assembly Codes Committee today defeated a bill to reinstate New York’s death penalty. The vote comes after five full days of public testimony that the death penalty is riddled with flaws and wastes millions of dollars. The Assembly’s report of the hearing was released last week, adding to a growing wave of voices questioning the death penalty across the country.

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press release - NY legislature defeats death penalty reinstatement.pdf