The O'Malley Stall in Maryland: Barry Rascovar, an opinion writer from the Maryland Gazette discusses the controversy surrounding Governor Martin O'Malley's effort to block enforcement of the death penalty for his state's worst murders. Rascovar suggests that because he has been unable to get the votes to abolish the death penalty, Governor O'Malley has taken other steps to prevent executions, including dragging out the process for approving lethal injection procedures. Rascovar speculates that Governor O'Malley can continue the delay tactics until after his re-election next year he can officially announce a death penalty moratorium as he presses for abolition for another four years.
New Hampshire Creates DP Panel: Margot Sanger-Katz from the Concord Monitor reports that the New Hampshire state senate has appointed a panel to study the death penalty. This action follows last year's vote in the state's lower house to abolish capital punishment. The Senate tabled the bill and passed legislation to establish a committee to determine whether the death penalty serves a "legitimate public interest," whether it is fairly applied, whether it encompasses the right types of murders and whether it is a cost-effective use of resources, among other questions. Sound familiar? The committee has twenty-two members and is chaired by a former Chief Justice of the state supreme court. They will be meeting monthly and will report their findings by the end of 2010.
DNA May Link Death Row Inmate to 25-Year old Crime: Greg Morrison from CNN.com reports on San Quentin prisoner Richard Ramirez, who was known as the Night Stalker, and the DNA now linking him to the unsolved murder of a 9 year-old girl. Police are seeking Ramirez's DNA in connection with the 25 year old murder case, but have not yet charged him for the brutal killing of 9 year-old Mei Lung. Ramirez is already facing the death penalty for the series of the murders of 13 people and attempted murder of five others between 1984-1985. Ramirez was also convicted of 14 burglaries and 11 sexual assaults. For more background information on Ramirez, as well as a summary of recent coverage, check out Ashby Jones' post on Wall Street Journal's Law Blog.
Nevada Man Avoids Death Penalty After Two Sentences: Sandra Cherb from the Mercury News reports on the case of a man charged with the murder of a cabdriver in 1990. Frederick Paine has been tried and sentenced to death twice for murdering Kenneth Marcom and robbing him of 45 dollars. Both convictions have been overturned. The first time, a panel judge fell asleep during the hearing making the vote invalid. The second time, the panel imposed the death penalty, but the Nevada Supreme Court determined the aggravators used to sentence Paine were invalid, once again voiding his death sentence. Paine will be re-sentenced to what will likely be life in prison.
New Hampshire Creates DP Panel: Margot Sanger-Katz from the Concord Monitor reports that the New Hampshire state senate has appointed a panel to study the death penalty. This action follows last year's vote in the state's lower house to abolish capital punishment. The Senate tabled the bill and passed legislation to establish a committee to determine whether the death penalty serves a "legitimate public interest," whether it is fairly applied, whether it encompasses the right types of murders and whether it is a cost-effective use of resources, among other questions. Sound familiar? The committee has twenty-two members and is chaired by a former Chief Justice of the state supreme court. They will be meeting monthly and will report their findings by the end of 2010.
DNA May Link Death Row Inmate to 25-Year old Crime: Greg Morrison from CNN.com reports on San Quentin prisoner Richard Ramirez, who was known as the Night Stalker, and the DNA now linking him to the unsolved murder of a 9 year-old girl. Police are seeking Ramirez's DNA in connection with the 25 year old murder case, but have not yet charged him for the brutal killing of 9 year-old Mei Lung. Ramirez is already facing the death penalty for the series of the murders of 13 people and attempted murder of five others between 1984-1985. Ramirez was also convicted of 14 burglaries and 11 sexual assaults. For more background information on Ramirez, as well as a summary of recent coverage, check out Ashby Jones' post on Wall Street Journal's Law Blog.
Nevada Man Avoids Death Penalty After Two Sentences: Sandra Cherb from the Mercury News reports on the case of a man charged with the murder of a cabdriver in 1990. Frederick Paine has been tried and sentenced to death twice for murdering Kenneth Marcom and robbing him of 45 dollars. Both convictions have been overturned. The first time, a panel judge fell asleep during the hearing making the vote invalid. The second time, the panel imposed the death penalty, but the Nevada Supreme Court determined the aggravators used to sentence Paine were invalid, once again voiding his death sentence. Paine will be re-sentenced to what will likely be life in prison.
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