South Dakota's first execution in the modern era went smoothly, according to this article in the Argus Leader. "From the time the lethal injection began until [Elijah] Page stopped breathing took around 30 seconds, [the Attorney General] said."

Inmate states his case is “mistaken identity”
Troy Davis is scheduled to die by lethal injection tomorrow in Georgia for the death of a police officer. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles is meeting today to decide whether Davis’ execution should be carried out tomorrow as planned or if he should be granted a reprieve. Davis has maintained his innocence the whole time, contending that he did not shoot Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail in August 1989, but was at the scene of the shooting. Davis’ lawyers have specifically complained about the AEDPA and argued that new evidence has not been considered by the courts. Prosecutors, on the other hand, have argued that witness-signed affidavits from 1996 and 2003 were included in prior appeals and should not count as new evidence. Three signed affidavits by those who did not testify stated that a man by the name of Sylvester Coles confessed to shooting the officer. Coles later identified Davis as the shooter, as reported in today’s Washington Post AP story. The Georgia Attorney General's summary of the case is here.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to sign Jessica’s Law today. Mark Lunsford, Jesssica’s father, will be present today for the signing of the law that will go into effect September 1, 2007. After September 1, prosecutors will now be able to ask for capital punishment for second-time offenders in child rape cases, reducing the re-offending chances. Bettie Cross of CBS42 News in Austin, Texas reports more on the story here. 30 states have established some type of Jessica’s Law, reports The Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation website.

D.C. Gun Ban: The District of Columbia will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals decision striking down the District's handgun ban, David Nakamura reports for the WashPost.