Ayers Talks Death Penalty: Anti-war activist William Ayers, and former member of the Weather Underground, emphasized his opposition to the death penalty in a speech at the Georgetown University Law Center last night reports Gregg Re from The Hoya. Recently, Ayers has attracted national attention during the presidential campaign for his past association to President-elect Barack Obama. During his speech Ayers specifically condemned the atmosphere at the execution of serial killer John Gacy in 1994 and said that the death penalty evokes disturbing emotions and occasionally punishes the innocent. Ayers also challenged claims that he is a terrorist, criticizing the Vietnam War and the current war in Iraq as terrorist acts. Some students and alumni in attendance questioned the Law Center’s invitation to Ayers, arguing that the Law Center should not condone violent radicalism.

Court Stays Execution of Texas Murderer: An AP story by Michael Graczyk reports that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Houston killer Eric Dewayne Cathey. Cathey was convicted of the abduction and murder of a 20-year-old woman in Houston more than 13 years ago. Appeals were filed late in the day on Monday, arguing Cathey was mentally retarded and ineligible for execution under U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

Court May Break NC Stalemate On Executions: According to an article by Dan Kane from the Charlotte Observer, North Carolina's highest court will hear legal arguments today that could break the two-year stalemate on executions or extend the de facto moratorium. State law requires that a doctor be present during executions, but, the NC Medical Board prohibited doctors from taking part. The board contends such participation violates the profession's mission to preserve life. This all began last March when North Carolina's Department of Correction filed suit after doctors said they could not risk their licenses by participating in executions. A state Superior Court Judge sided with correction officials, and prompted medical board to appeal. If the North Carolina Supreme Court rules that the medical board cannot bar doctors from taking part in executions, lawyers representing death row inmates plan to claim the state's execution process is invalid because public hearings were not held prior to its adoption.

Killer Of 3-Year-Old Escapes Death Penalty: Jim Walsh from The Arizona Republic reports that Christopher Langin escaped the death penalty Monday for the shocking 2005 murder of his best friend's 3-year-old daughter. The jury gave Langin life in prison. One of Langin's defense attorneys, Joey Hamby, said jurors told him the first vote was 7-5 for death but eventually shifted to a unanimous verdict for life in prison. Langin was found guilty of felony murder committed during the crime of child abuse.