The Tennessee House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would establish a commission to thoroughly review the state’s death penalty system and provide lawmakers with reform recommendations that address any problems identified by members of the commission. The commission would consist of representatives appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen (pictured), the Senate, and the House, and would include prosecutors, defense attorneys, mental health advocates, and victims advocates.

A poll conducted by the Global Strategies group revealed that 66% of Tennesseans would approve an extension of the temporary hold on executions imposed earlier by the governor, who had received a letter from more than 200 faith leaders in the state urging him to take steps that would ensure the accuracy and fairness of the state’s death penalty. In addition, the American Bar Association urged Governor Bredesen to extend the state’s moratorium on executions to allow time for a closer examination of concerns identified during a recent ABA study of Tennessee’s capital punishment system.

[I]t’s encouraging that the General Assembly is taking steps to address the serious flaws in Tennessee’s capital punishment system,” said Rev. Stacy Rector, Executive Director of the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing.
(Eyewitness News - Memphis, May 2, 2007). A federal District Court in Tennessee granted a stay to Philip Workman, but the stay was lifted by the 6th Circuit. He is scheduled to be executed May 9. See Recent Legislative Activity and Lethal Injection.