American Civil Liberties Union : Delaware Pushes for Death Penalty Moratorium

Death Penalty:
The death penalty is the ultimate denial of civil liberties. In the past 35 years, 129 inmates were found to be innocent and released from death row. The ACLU Capital Punishment Project is fighting for the end of the death penalty by supporting moratorium and repeal movements through public education and advocacy. We are engaged in systemic reform of the death penalty process, and case-specific litigation highlighting some of its fundamental flaws.

Delaware Pushes for Death Penalty Moratorium (6/21/2000)

DELAWARE -- Several Delaware lawmakers would like the state to follow the actions of the Illinois governor, George Ryan, by calling for a moratorium on executions and a study of the death penalty. Sen. F. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, introduced Senate Joint Resolution 10 last week, which would establish an impartial commission to study all aspects of the death penalty in Delaware. "Next year marks the 25th anniversary since the death penalty was resumed in the United States and now is an appropriate time to revisit this emotionally charged and sensitive issue," Sen. Simpson said.

The 11-member commission would be chaired by former Chancery Court Judge Grover C. Brown and would be mandated to hold public hearings and report its findings to the governor and the General Assembly in February 2001.

The resolution also calls on the governor to halt executions in the state until the commission's report is complete.

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 21 against the city and the police department, accuses officers of abusing civil rights by filing false charges, using excessive force and conducting illegal searches.

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