Publications & Testimony

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has proposed a constitutional amendment to reinstate the death penalty after nearly a century without it. The idea has been met with some firm resistance from state lawmakers, including criticism from Representative Keith Ellison, who noted, “The death penalty serves no legitimate purpose. It’s applied unfairly, falling disproportionately on the poor, people of color and, in too many cases, on the innocent. It’s also a budget buster, sapping resources from…

In 2003, California juries sent 16 individuals to death row, the lowest number since 1985 and a dramatic decline from 1999’s total of 42 new death sentences. Some believe the decline is evidence of prosecutors being more selective in seeking death convictions, as well as the public’s skepticism about the capital punishment system. Robert Pugsley, a professor at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, noted, “I think that (incidences of wrongfully convicted death row inmates) has…

The Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty has issued a new report, “Questioning a Broken System: Capital Punishment in Illinois in 2003,” an in-depth review of capital punishment in Illinois following actions by the former governor and the legislature to address systemic flaws in the state’s death penalty system. The report notes that prosecutors continue to aggressively seek the death penalty, but public skepticism is growing over the use of capital punishment. For example, 80% of…

Greensboro (NC) News and Record January 30, 2004 Editorial Five prisoners on North Carolina’s death row are among the 73 inmates in America who will anxiously await a U.S. Supreme Court decision. The prisoners were under 18 years old when they committed murder. This week the nation’s highest court agreed to review whether the U.S. Constitution permits juveniles to be executed. The court will decide if those who were 16 or 17 years old when they committed murder can be given the death…

Detroit Free Press January 30, 2004 Editorial Even death penalty supporters should applaud the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to consider ending the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes. The arguments against executing adults are compelling enough. They should be absolutely decisive against the execution of teens and children in any decent society. The high court has already laid the legal and philosophic groundwork for ending this shameful practice. It…

Arizona Daily Star JANUARY 29, 2004 “Executing Young Offenders” Public sentiment and state practices are leading the way, and now the Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether criminals can be executed if they committed their crimes when they were 16 and 17 years old. The court agreed to hear an appeal from the Missouri Supreme Court. That court ruled last year that executing Christopher Simmons, now 27, would amount to a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s provision against “cruel and…

Arnold Holloway, a Pennsylvania death row inmate who was convicted 18 years ago, was granted a new trial after a federal appeals court found that prosecutors improperly excluded blacks from the jury. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said that an assistant district attorney in Holloway’s case used 11 of his 12 peremptory strikes during jury selection to eliminate blacks. “The pattern here was certainly strong enough to suggest an intention of keeping blacks off the jury,” said…

Kansas City Star January 29, 2004 Editorial After deciding to review a Missouri case, the U.S. Supreme Court has the opportunity to stop death penalty sentences on those who were minors when they committed crimes. Since 1973, states have put to death more than 20 juveniles. Justice John Paul Stevens rightly labeled such executions “shameful” and Justices David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer agreed. Experts believe a decision in this case will rest with Justices Sandra…

Arizona Daily Star January 29, 2004 Editorial Public sentiment and state practices are leading the way, and now the Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether criminals can be executed if they committed their crimes when they were 16 and 17 years old. The court agreed to hear an appeal from the Missouri Supreme Court. That court ruled last year that executing Christopher Simmons, now 27, would amount to a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s provision against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Baltimore Sun January 28, 2004 Editorial In America, youngsters under the age of 18 can’t buy cigarettes. They can’t be served a cocktail in a bar or pick up a six-pack of beer. They can’t vote. They can’t own property outright. And yet, executing someone who committed a heinous crime at age 16 or 17 is permissible in this society. Condoned in 22 states. Practiced vigorously in at least one, Texas. Only in America. The U.S. Supreme Court has the opportunity to put a stop to that barbarous…