Weekly News Round-Up: 11/3/14 - 11/7/14
MD AG argues state no longer has “authority” to execute. One man's death sentence is thrown out in TX while another mentally-ill man is prepared for execution. And questions are raised about the moral and financial cost of the death penalty. Read More
Democracies Die Behind Closed Doors: Capital Punishment and State Secrecy Laws
“Democracies die behind closed doors. When the government begins closing doors, it selectively controls information rightfully belonging to the people. Selective information is misinformation.”— Judge Damon J. Keith, 2002. Read More
Alabama’s Controversial Death Penalty System Could Be Getting Worse
Alabama is one of three states (Delaware and Florida are the others) that allow judges to override a jury’s sentencing decision in capital cases and issue a death sentence despite the jury’s recommendation to the contrary. On November 18, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Mario Woodward who was sentenced by an Alabama judge to death despite an 8-4 jury vote at trial against it. According to news accounts, the jury’s decision was influenced by multiple mitigating factors, including the importance of Woodward’s relationship with his children. Read More