The North Carolina House of Representatives will soon vote on a two-year moratorium on executions in the state while the death penalty is studied. A moratorium bill passed the full Senate in 2003, but had been previously blocked from coming to a vote in the House.

The House Judiciary Committee will likely consider the moratorium measure on Tuesday, May 31. The committee’s approval could mean a full House vote on the legislation as early as that same day. The full House is then required to consider the bill before it adjourns on June 2 or the legislation expires for this term. House Speaker Jim Black and House Majority Leader Joe Hackney both support the bill to halt executions and form a study committee. The committee would examine issues such as the adequacy of legal counsel, prosecutorial misconduct and racial bias. If the bill passes the House, the Senate would then be required to reconsider the bill.

Republican Representative Doug Vinson stated that he is leaning toward supporting the measure, noting, “Given that there’s clearly been inequitable application of the death penalty, it’s our obligation to understand why and err on the side of life.” (Charlotte Observer, May 27, 2005). See Recent Legislative Activities.