News Update 2.28.07

North Carolina

Another article on race and the death penalty.

Rocky Mount prosecutors seek death for woman.

Elsewhere

In Zimbabwe, anti-death penalty activists risk treason charges, being sentenced to death themselves.

A new book about how capital punishment affects the families of the accused.

News Update 2.27.07

North Carolina

Yesterday, NC Policy Watch and the NC Coalition for a Moratorium sponsored a discussion on the role of race in the death penalty in North Carolina. See articles here and here. Speakers included Prof. Charles Ogletree of Harvard Law School and Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake). For those who are interested, I’m told that NC Policy Watch will have a video of the forum on their website in the near future.

Elsewhere

Georgia Supreme Court reinstates the death penalty for man whose counsel was ineffective because there was no “actual prejudice.” Well, except for the part where he was sentenced to die because his lawyers didn’t present the jury with information that would have convinced them to spare his life.

The Death Penalty Information Center on religion and the death penalty.

News Update 2.26.07

North Carolina

Allen Holman doesn’t care if the execution protocol is flawed. He just wants to be executed.

See also.

Pitt County Assistant District Attorney chooses life.

Elsewhere

In Connecticut, questions about whether prosecutors arbitrarily decide when to seek death.

In Florida, panel debates changes to death penalty protocol.

In Kansas, an uncommon path to death row.

In Zambia, law allows for death penalty but President refuses to sign death warrants.

Justice Department fires, smears highly qualified attorneys for expressing reservations about death penalty cases.

Methods of Execution by Jurisdiction

Alabama – choice of lethal injection or electrocution
Alaska – no death penalty
Arkansas – can choose electrocution if sentenced before 7/4/83, otherwise lethal injection
Arizona - can choose gas chamber if sentenced before 11/92, otherwise lethal injection
California – choice of lethal injection or gas chamber
Colorado – lethal injection
Connecticut – lethal injection
District of Columbia – no death penalty
Delaware – can choose hanging if sentenced before 6/13/86, otherwise lethal injection
Florida – choice of lethal injection or electrocution
Georgia – lethal injection
Hawaii – no death penalty
Iowa - no death penalty
Idaho – lethal injection unless “impractical,” then firing squad
Illinois – lethal injection
Indiana – lethal injection
Kansas – lethal injection
Kentucky – can choose electrocution if sentenced before 6/1/98, otherwise lethal injection
Louisiana – lethal injection
Massachusetts – no death penalty
Maryland – can choose gas chamber if sentenced before 3/11/94, otherwise lethal injection
Maine – no death penalty
Michigan – no death penalty
Minnesota – no death penalty
Missouri – choice of lethal injection or gas chamber
Mississippi – lethal injection
Montana – lethal injection
North Carolina – lethal injection
North Dakota – no death penalty
Nebraska – electrocution
New Hampshire – lethal injection, or hanging if injection not possible
New Jersey – lethal injection
New Mexico – lethal injection
Nevada - lethal injection
New York – lethal injection
Ohio – lethal injection
Oklahoma – lethal injection, if injection found unconstitutional, then electrocution, if electrocution found unconstitutional, then firing squad
Oregon - lethal injection
Pennsylvania – lethal injection
Puerto Rico - no death penalty
Rhode Island – no death penalty
South Carolina – choice of lethal injection or electrocution
South Dakota – lethal injection
Tennessee – can choose electrocution if sentenced before 1/1/99, otherwise lethal injection
Texas – lethal injection
US Government – method of state where sentence imposed
US Military – lethal injection
Utah – lethal injection, unless the inmate chose the firing squad prior to its ban
Virginia - choice of lethal injection or electrocution
Vermont – no death penalty
Washington – choice of lethal injection or hanging
Wisconsin – no death penalty
West Virginia - no death penalty
Wyoming – lethal injection, if injection found unconstitutional, then gas chamber

News Update 2.23.07

North Carolina

State seeks death penalty in Charlotte murder, victim’s family hopes defendant gets life.

N.C. Medical Board keeping mum on lethal injection.

Elsewhere

The Facing South blog on capital punishment below the Mason-Dixon.

The story of a man exonerated after 17 years on Florida’s death row.

News Update 2.22.07

North Carolina

The News and Observer on Archie Billings’ stay of execution.

Before the stay was granted, Archie Billings’ attorneys sought clemency from the Governor.

I’m not seeing a lot of coverage on the stays for Kenneth Rouse and George Page. Also no word on Allen Holman. I will add more articles should they appear.

Elsewhere

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley explained to The Washington Post why he opposes the death penalty.

Oklahoma man’s death sentence overturned due to ineffective assistance of counsel.

Our fellow death penalty nation Saudia Arabia recently hanged and publicly crucified four men convicted of robbery.

This Just In

Judge Don Stephens has issued a stay of execution for Archie Billings.

Similarly, Judge Terrence Boyle has stayed proceedings against Kenneth Rouse and George Page.

News Update 2.21.07

North Carolina

Executions on hold in eleven states, including North Carolina, due to ethical concerns about lethal injection.

You may have heard that House Speaker Jim Black entered an Alford plea to charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. What’s an Alford plea?

Elsewhere

The American Bar Association finds that Indiana’s death penalty is applied nearly at random.

Maryland Governor to make rare appearance before legislature to say why he opposes the death penalty.

Whether Texas executed an innocent man or not, there were still tremendous failings in the case of Ruben Cantu.

News Update 2.20.07

North Carolina

General Assembly prepares to examine death penalty.

City offers wrongfully convicted man $1.65 million – and an apology.

Elsewhere

In Alabama, stillbirth or capital murder?

In Texas, life after death row.

News Update 2.19.07

North Carolina

Death row inmates use new route to challenge executions.

More on the issue.

ACLU honors NC death penalty activist Cas Shearin.

Tune in to OPEN/net tomorrow (Feb. 20) at 9 PM for a discussion on potential changes to the death penalty. Joining the conversation will be Rep. Ronnie Sutton (D-Robeson County, member, House Select Committee on Capital Punishment), Rep. Bill McGee (R-Forsyth County, House Minority Whip), Sen. Ellie Kinnaird (D-Orange and Person Counties, primary sponsor, Legislative Commission on Lethal Injection bill), and Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R-Forsyth County). Click here to see if your local cable provider is carrying the program. If not, click here to stream it live.

Elsewhere

The state of the death penalty worldwide.