The New York Court of Appeals ruled today (October 23, 2007) that the death sentence of the last remaining inmate on the state’s death row was unconstitutional under state law. John Taylor’s sentence will be changed to life in prison without parole. An earlier decision by the state’s high court in 2004 overturned the state’s statute because of flaws in the jury instructions. (People v. LaValle). Following hearings on the problems with capital punishment in the state, the New York legislature has repeatedly rejected attempts to re-instate the death penalty.
(Associated Press, NY Times, Oct. 23, 2007). See Recent Legislative Activity - NY. New York is now in the same position of other states such as Massachusetts where the death penalty law was overturned and the legislature has not re-instated capital punishment. This leaves 37 states with death penalty laws in the country.