A joint committee of 32 senators and representatives held the first public hearing on Kentucky’s death penalty since capital punishment was reinstated there in 1975. The hearing was prompted by a death penalty repeal bill proposed by Republican Rep. David Floyd, who said the death penalty should be ended because of the cost and time it takes for cases to complete the appeals process. He was also concerned about the number of death penalty cases that have been overturned. A 2011 study by the American Bar Association found that 64% of the death sentences they examined were later overturned or commuted. Rep. Floyd said, “Conservatives in general have less trust in government. Why would we trust them in a matter of life and death? If people are given the opportunity to consider all those things, they may come to the same conclusion, that life without parole is a better option for Kentucky.” Kentucky has carried out three executions since reinstatement, but executions are currently on hold while a judge reviews the state’s lethal injection protocol.

(B. Barrouquere, “In Kentucky, execution debate finds new footing,” Associated Press, August 1, 2014). See Recent Legislation and New Voices.

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