DEATH PENALTY

What's Going on with the Death Penalty? - Nov. 2007

A defacto moratorium has been in place in north Carolina since January, 2007 when Wake county Superior court Judge Donald Stephens stopped two executions; thereby stalling all NC executions. At that time, Stephens ruled that the NC Council of State must approve changes to a doctor's role in lethal injections.

In February, 2007, after Judge Stephen's ruling and the release of the NC Medical Board's ethics policy to discipline doctors who participate in executions, the NC Council of State, comprised of Gov. Michael Easley, and other top state officials, voted to approve a doctor's role in monitoring the body functions of inmates at the time of execution. This decision placed the death penalty dispute back in Judge Stephens' hands.

In early October, 2007, after Administrative law Judge Fred Morrison ordered the Council of State to revisit execution protocol in NC, council of State members refused and Governor Easley stated that "a Superior Court judge trumps any administrative hearing officer at any time so we have to follow what that judge (Stephens) ordered us to do" according to a report by The News & Observer.

The death penalty decision at this point remains in the courts while organizations throughout the state continue to strategize on the best methods to pass meaningful reform bills that address current flaws in NC's death penalty system and also help to reform the overall criminal justice system.

While the Moratorium on Executions bill remains alive and executions are on hold due to the court-ordered defacto moratorium, organizations are hopeful that with grassroots support and support from NC Senate Leaders that NC House bill 1291 - The Racial Justice Act and NC House Bill 341 - Proportionality Review, will be heard and passed in the NC Senate when the legislative session reconvenes in May, 2008.

Other reform bills that remain alive for consideration in 2008 include House Bill 526 - Streamlined and Cost-effective Capital Case Act which would add clarity and increased specification to exactly which cases should be death eligible.

Articles

4/24/2007 - Study: Lethal Injection Flawed

3/06/2007 - State asks court to take away the medical board's power to discipline doctors who participate in executions by lethal injection.

Legislative Review - 2007

Click here to Review August 10 Legislative Update and scroll to Death Penalty Items

Executions Scheduled/Stayed through Jan. 26, 2007

Marcus Robinson - Jan. 26, 2007 Execution Stayed

Guy LeGrande - Dec. 1, 2006 Execution Stayed

-------Brochure - downloadable