Just hours before Texas inmate Duane Edward Buck was to be taken to the death chamber the US Supreme Court halted his execution to investigate charges that his sentence was tainted by race issues . Buck, an African-American, was convicted of a double-murder in 1995. At trial Dr. Walter Quijano, a psychologist, testified that simply… Continue reading When fail-safes become failures
Tag: Fairness
Sub-issue
An Overwhelming Testimony to Repeal
New Hampshire’s death penalty study commission, which started its investigation in October 2009, just concluded its final hearing. The Commission has heard from over a hundred witnesses on issues such as innocence, fairness, public safety, and alternatives. The review has been a showcase of the death penalty’s litany of problems. Ray Krone and Juan Melendez… Continue reading An Overwhelming Testimony to Repeal
Another landmark session for the US Supreme Court?
During its 2001-02 term, the United States Supreme Court issued two landmark rulings: one barring the execution of the mentally retarded and another which requires such fundamental changes in how some states impose death sentences that it has led to special legislative sessions. Thus far this year, no death row appeal taken on by the… Continue reading Another landmark session for the US Supreme Court?
Governor Ryan’s last stand
As Illinois Governor’s term ends, those on death row may find a ray of hope Illinois Governor George Ryan made history in January 2000 when he made Illinois the first state in the country to halt executions while questions of fairness were studied. The study commission the Governor established completed its report earlier this year,… Continue reading Governor Ryan’s last stand
Peak season for executions in Alabama
from Petra Wendeler of Amnesty International, Group 513, Mobile When it comes to the death penalty, Alabama has never produced the big headlines that Texas has. However, with the fastest growing death row population per capita in the United States, this might soon change. Alabama’s capital punishment system is one of the worst in the… Continue reading Peak season for executions in Alabama
VICTORY! Maryland Governor Declares Moratorium
May 9, 2002. The state of Maryland is set to execute Wesley Baker in less than a week. Thousands of calls have been pouring in to the Governor from around the country calling for him to halt executions. Whatever the Governor’s decision, we know it will have to come sometime in the next two days.… Continue reading VICTORY! Maryland Governor Declares Moratorium
Four Major Cities Urge Moratorium
With populations around one million people, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco and Pittsburgh are the largest U.S. cities to date to call for a moratorium on executions. Each city’s action came within a month of Governor Ryan’s declaration of a moratorium in Illinois. Eight other local governments have also asked lawmakers to stop and take a closer… Continue reading Four Major Cities Urge Moratorium
Clinton Urged to Declare Moratorium
On January 31 – the day Governor George Ryan announced a moratorium in Illinois – Senator Russ Feingold took to the Senate floor to urge President Clinton to impose a moratorium on federal executions. “The problems of inadequate representation, lack of access to DNA testing, police misconduct, racial bias and even simple errors are not… Continue reading Clinton Urged to Declare Moratorium