Death Penalty letter update
For prior death penalty related posts: click here.
For those of you who remember this post and story, the group of legislators who asked the governor to suspend executions have updated their letter. Basically, they have added some new signatories and tweaked the language.
Read that release and the letter after the jump:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2007 Contact: Rep. Alma Adams, (919) 733-5902 Rep. Paul Luebke, (919) 733-7663 Rep. Pricey Harrison, (919) 733-5771 44 LEGISLATORS ASK GOVERNOR EASLEY TO USE HIS CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND ALL LETHAL INJECTION EXECUTIONS IN NORTH CAROLINARALEIGH -- Today, 44 State Senators and Representatives sent a letter to Governor Mike Easley requesting an immediate suspension of all executions "until we can be assured that North Carolina's method of execution clearly meets the U.S. constitutional requirement that the punishment is not cruel and unusual". Thirty legislators made a similar request of the Governor on January 23, 2007.
Since the original request two weeks ago, several developments have taken place: (1) on January 25 and 26, Judge Donald Stephens stayed the executions of the three death row inmates whose executions under the identical method as Florida's had been scheduled between January 26 and February 9; and (2) on February 1, Tennessee's Democratic governor, Phil Bredesen, suspended all executions in Tennessee for 90 days while issues involving that state's lethal injection method are studied.
Today, the 44 legislators renewed their request to Governor Easley that he suspend all of North Carolina's executions, as Governor Bredesen has done in Tennessee. The state legislators represent districts in the Mountains, the Piedmont, and the Coast. Both white and African-American legislators are among the 44, but the Legislative Black Caucus as a whole has established death penalty issues as a priority for the 2007 session.
According to Legislative Black Caucus chair, Rep. Alma Adams, "The Black Caucus considers the lethal injection controversy to be of great importance. We ask the Governor to implement a death penalty suspension now."
Below is the text of the letter which has been sent to the Governor, with the names of the 14 new legislators, who are supporting this call, highlighted:
January 23, 2007
Governor Mike F. Easley
116 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8001Dear Governor Easley:
As legislators, we write to respectfully request that you suspend immediately all executions until we can be assured that North Carolina's method of execution clearly meets the U.S. constitutional requirement that the punishment is not cruel and unusual.
Governor Jeb Bush imposed a moratorium on executions in Florida following a December 13, 2006, botched execution during which the condemned inmate clearly suffered a protracted, painful death. In addition, eight additional states -- Arkansas, California, Delaware, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, South Dakota, and Maryland have recently halted executions to review their lethal injection process. It is troubling that North Carolina uses the identical drug combination as Florida.As you know, three North Carolina death row inmates are currently scheduled for execution between January 26 and February 9. We respectfully ask that you suspend those and all other executions until our lethal injection procedures, which are identical to Florida's, can be reviewed fully.
Thank you very much for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Representatives
Rep. Alma Adams, Guilford
Rep. Martha Alexander, Mecklenburg
Rep. Larry M. Bell, Sampson, Wayne
Rep. Alice Bordsen, Alamance
* Rep. Angela Bryant, Halifax, Nash
* Rep. Becky Carney, Mecklenburg
Rep. Linda Coleman, Wake
Rep. W. Pete Cunningham, Mecklenburg
Rep. Beverly Earle, Mecklenburg
Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, Wilson
Rep. Susan Fisher, Buncombe
Rep. Rick Glazier, Cumberland
Rep. Bruce Goforth, Buncombe
* Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin, Montgomery, Richmond
Rep. Larry Hall, Durham
Rep. Ty Harrell, Wake
Rep. Pricey Harrison, Guilford
Rep. Verla Insko, Orange
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, Guilford
* Rep. Earl Jones, Guilford
* Rep. Marvin Lucas, Cumberland
Rep. Paul Luebke, Durham
* Mary McAllister, Cumberland
Rep. H. M. Michaux, Jr., Durham
* Rep. Annie Mobley, Bertie, Gates, Hertford, Perquimans
Rep. Earline W. Parmon, Forsyth
* Rep. Garland Pierce, Hoke, Robeson, Scotland
* Rep. Ray Rapp, Haywood, Madison, Yancey
Rep. William Wainwright, Craven, Lenoir
Rep. Larry Womble, Forsyth
Rep. Jennifer Weiss, Wake
*Rep. Thomas Wright, New Hanover, PenderSenators
Sen. Robert C. Atwater, Chatham, Durham, Lee
* Sen. Janet Cowell, Wake
Sen. Charlie S. Dannelly, Mecklenburg
Sen. Katie G. Dorsett, Guilford
* Sen. Tony Foriest, Alamance, Caswell
* Sen. Malcolm Graham, Mecklenburg
* Sen. Ed Jones, Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Perquimans
Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, Orange
Sen. Jeanne Lucas, Durham
Sen. Vernon Malone, Wake
Sen. William Purcell, Scotland
Sen. Larry Shaw, Cumberland
* ADDED TO TODAY'S LETTER TO GOVERNOR EASLEY# # #
Comments (2)
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Sounds like the legislature wants this in their lap.
Is there a way to put it there?
Posted on February 5, 2007 4:59 PM
Mary:
To answer your question, yes. It has been a subject of debate for a number of years. But the honorables are at a stalemate on the issue.
Posted on February 5, 2007 5:38 PM