Publications & Testimony

Victims’ advocates and prosecutors are urging Texas legislators to exclude the death penalty from new legislation designed to toughen penalties for repeat child molesters. Those opposed to the measure fear that threatening death sentences for sex offenders could lead to fewer reported cases of sex crimes and might even give incentive to offenders to kill their victims to prevent the child from testifying in court. Annette Burrhus-Clay, executive director of the Texas Association Against Sexual…

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on January 5 to hear another death penalty case from Texas, this one involving a defendant who may be mentally incompetent. In 1986, the Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to execute an inmate who is presently insane. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5^th Circuit ruled that Scott Panetti, who was allowed to defend himself in his Texas trial despite his schizophrenia and 14 stints in mental hospitals, and who says the devil compelled his actions, was…

An editorial published by the Lexington Herald-Leader noted that support for Kentucky’s death penalty has declined since the state resumed executions a decade ago. The paper stated that 68% of state residents questioned in a recent poll preferred a long prison sentence over execution for those convicted of murder. The Herald-Leader concluded that Kentuckians’ growing unease about capital punishment is reflective of a broader national trend away from the death penalty and that the death penalty…

Professor Matthew Robinson of Applachian State University has written a new book entitled Death Nation: The Experts Explain American Capital Punishment. This book provides a solid yet brief background on the major issues pertaining to capital punishment in the United States. It covers topics such as the history of the death penalty in America, American death penalty law, justifications for capital punishment, as well as alleged problems with its practice. The book also presents a study of…

The report from the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission that called for an end to the state’s death penalty was prepared by a group of individuals representing a wide variety of viewpoints and experience. The members of the Commission were: Governor Jon S. Corzine appointed: Eddie Hicks, a member of Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation; Kathleen Garcia, a member of the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center; the Reverend M. William Howard, Jr., of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark…

EXECUTION REPRIEVES Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio granted temporary reprieves to three inmates scheduled for execution in the next 5 weeks in order to allow more time to consider whether clemency should be granted: Kenneth Biros, James Filiaggi, and Christopher Newton. (Jan. 19, 2007). See Clemency. MENTAL COMPETENCY The Indiana Supreme Court has stayed the January 19 execution Norman Timberlake pending the outcome of Panetti v. Quarterman in the U.S. Supreme Court. Panetti concerns the standard…

After extensive public hearings, the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission issued a report on January 2 calling for an end to the state’s death penalty and replacing it with a sentence of life without parole. The 13-member Commission was appointed by the state legislature, which also placed a moratorium on all executions until a report was prepared. The report cited the risks of executing the innocent, the high costs of the death penalty, and society’s evolving standards of decency in…

Total: 464 Jurisdiction of Execution Total Number Executed Military 150 State 132 Federal 65 Territorial 52 Indian Tribunal 33 Unknown 32 Method of Execution Total Number Executed Hanged 333 Shot 69 Lethal Injection 14 Electrocution 13 Asphyxiation 7 Other 28 Place of Execution Total Number Executed MA 79 CA 63 AR 54 OK 41 MN 40 OR 25 CT 20 NY 12 AL 11 NC 10 AZ 10 AK 6 WA 9 MI 7 RI 6 OH 6 NV 6 GA 6 TX 5 SD 5 MT 5 MO 5 IL 4 VA 3 PA 3 WY 3 ME 3 LA 3 UT 2 TN 2 KS 2 NJ 2 NE 1 MS 1 MD 1 KT 1 ID 1…

Texas Court Rejects Presidential Order in Death Penalty Case The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rebuffed President Bush’s order that Texas courts review the cases of Mexican foreign nationals who were sentenced to death without the benefit of their rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Writing for the court, Judge Michael Keasler, stated: “We hold that the President has exceeded his constitutional authority by intruding into the independent powers of the judiciary.” Judge…