In brief: April 2019
April 12, 2019
Global executions fell by almost 31 percent last year, the lowest figure in at least a decade, according to Amnesty International’s annual report, also released
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s cruel and unusual opinion
April 12, 2019
“Gorsuch just handed down the most bloodthirsty and cruel death penalty opinion of the modern era” read the headline in ThinkProgress. “Unusual Cruelty at the
Six former governors tell CA Gov. Newsom “he isn’t alone”
April 12, 2019
When Gavin Newsom assumed office just four months ago, he promised Californians his administration would “be bold” and would “aim high.” With his decision to
“The moratorium is a seminal moment for our effort and for our country.”
April 12, 2019
On March 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on the death penalty, ensuring there would be no executions while he is in office.
Majority of Californians favor life in prison over death penalty according to new polls
April 12, 2019
“Governor Gavin Newsom’s heroic act of declaring a moratorium on executions in our state has inspired us all,” DPF President Mike Farrell said in his
Two CA Supreme Court justices weigh in on the death penalty
April 12, 2019
Two weeks after Gov. Newsom issued an Executive Order imposing a moratorium, two California Supreme Court justices issued their own critique of the death penalty system,
SCOTUS hears oral argument on racist jury selection
April 12, 2019
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in a jury selection bias case last month in which Mississippi death row prisoner Curtis Flowers, an African-American,
SCOTUS to consider anti-gay bias case
April 12, 2019
On Thursday, the Supreme Court considered whether to take the case of a South Dakota death row prisoner who maintains he was sentenced to death
SCOTUS rules in favor of Alabama man suffering from dementia
March 8, 2019
If Alabama were to go ahead with its plan to execute 68-year-old Vernon Madison, he wouldn’t know why. Because of several strokes over the past
Racism in the Keith Tharpe case
March 8, 2019
The headlines say it all. “The Stench of Prejudice in Keith Tharpe’s Death Sentence,” in the New York Times. “A juror used the N-word. Did
Two California death row prisoners released
March 8, 2019
In the space of one week last month, two men walked out of prison, each of whom had spent decades on death row. Freddie Lee
CA Gov. Newsom orders additional DNA testing in Cooper case
March 8, 2019
“Yay Gavin Newsom. I’m very thankful to him for having the courage, the guts, to stand up and say before California murders anyone on my
While we’re on the subject . . .
July 26, 2022
In her New York Times piece, “After Parkland, One Question Remains: What Is Justice?”, Audra D. S. Burch writes about Tom and Gena Hoyer, whose
Voices: Dr. Philip Hansten
July 26, 2022
“It was so frustrating to see these horrible, untrue claims go unconfronted. I felt I could go after them and call them out for what
Amnesty International calls on Biden to abolish the federal death penalty
July 19, 2022
Amnesty International called on President Biden to make good on his 2020 campaign promise and abolish the federal death penalty, and commute the sentences of
DPIC marks 50th anniversary of Furman with a death sentence census
July 7, 2022
The Death Penalty Information Center marked the 50th anniversary of Furman v. Georgia by releasing a census of death sentences handed down from June 29,
Republican legislator fights to prove Richard Glossip is innocent
July 5, 2022
In our June Focus newsletter, we covered how Oklahoma’s attorney general has asked for execution dates for 25 men who have exhausted their appeals, but
Oklahoma court sets execution dates for 25 men
July 4, 2022
(Updated July 4, 2022) On Friday, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals scheduled execution dates for 25 men on death row, including individuals with claims
Furman v. Georgia
June 29, 2022
Fifty years ago this week, the United States took a historic step toward a more fair, humane, less racist criminal justice system. On June 29,
At least two of the 25 men OK plans to execute have strong innocence claims
June 28, 2022
The Oklahoma City law firm that conducted a pro bono independent investigation into the case of Richard Glossip, the second in line of the 25
Spurned California DAs turn to SCOTUS
June 28, 2022
Three California district attorneys are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that denied their right to intervene
