Execution

16 April 2008 -- The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the most common method of lethal injection used for executions by the federal government and 36 states. The unsuccessful constitutional challenge to the three-drug lethal injection was brought by lawyers representing two men sentenced to die in the state of Kentucky.

Lawyers for the two convicted murderers at the center of the case argued that death by lethal injection amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited by the U.S. constitution. The lawyers argued that the drugs are often administered by untrained officials who sometimes botch the executions, causing extreme pain and suffering.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- Lincoln, Neb. - Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Attorney General Jon Bruning commented today on a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld lethal injection as a legal method of execution in response to a challenge in another state.

Gov. Heineman said, “I find it encouraging that the United States Supreme Court has ruled Kentucky’s method of lethal injection as a constitutional means of execution.

“The ruling issued today is intricate and complex and I have asked Attorney General Bruning to conduct a careful, thorough and thoughtful review of this case in order to determine an appropriate course of action. I am not eager to call a special session and I will not make a final decision regarding a special session until this review is completed.”    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting a challenge to lethal injection, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, a strong supporter of the death penalty, today issued the following statement calling on the Missouri Supreme Court to immediately issue execution orders for all pending death penalty cases:

Lethal injection: Photo by Jessica Stacey (CC)    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today spoke at the Legislative Abolition of the Death Penalty in New Jersey Conference to reflect on the process of abolishing the death penalty in the state. The conference was held at The Newark Club. The Governor signed legislation in December of 2007 ending the death penalty in New Jersey and today offered the following sentiments.

Electric chair used in Texas until 1954: Photo by Jessica Stacey (CC)    » read more »

Nebraska Ruling Brings US Closer to Ending This Inhumane Form of Execution in US

New York, February 8, 2008 – The Nebraska Supreme Court’s ruling today that use of the electric chair violates the state constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment is an important step toward eliminating inherently inhumane executions in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today.

Nebraska is the only state to use the electric chair as its sole method of execution; all other US death penalty jurisdictions use lethal injection.    » read more »

18 December 2007 -- The global campaign against the death penalty secured a landmark victory on Tuesday when the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the call for a worldwide moratorium (suspension) on executions.

In a landslide result, 104 UN member states voted in favour of the ground-breaking resolution. 54 countries voted against, while there were 25 abstentions.

Amnesty International welcomes this timely resolution, passed at the UN headquarters in New York City, as a clear recognition of the international trend towards worldwide abolition of the death penalty.    » read more »

December 17, 2007 -- New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine - Remarks as Delivered
December 17, 2007

Good morning everyone.

Thank you all for being here. Today, December 17th 2007, is a momentous day - a day of progress - for the State of New Jersey and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder.

Today, through my signature on this bill, New Jersey abolishes the death penalty as a policy of our state.    » read more »