American Civil Liberties Union : Death Penalty : Moratorium

Death Penalty:
The death penalty is the ultimate denial of civil liberties. In the past 35 years, 132 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.

Death Penalty : Moratorium : Press Releases

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ACLU Applauds Maryland Governor for Testifying in Support of Repealing the State’s Death Penalty (02/21/2007)
BALTIMORE, MD - The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today hailed the remarkable appearance of Governor Martin O’Malley, who personally testified in support of repealing the state’s death penalty. The ACLU of Maryland is seconding the call for capital punishment to finally be abandoned as a fundamentally flawed and failed policy.

Kansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Death Penalty Law (12/21/2004)
WASHINGTON--The American Civil Liberties Union applauded a decision made today by the Kansas Supreme Court to strike down the state's death penalty law, making it the 14th state to ban capital punishment.

NYCLU Hails New York Appeals Decision Invalidating State Death Penalty (06/24/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed a New York Court of Appeals decision that effectively invalidates the state's death penalty. In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that the "deadlock" instruction given to juries improperly coerces them to vote for the death penalty.

High Court Halts Execution of Texas Death Row Prisoner, Saying Prosecutors Violated Ethical Duties (02/24/2004)
WASHINGTON - The United States Supreme Court today halted the scheduled execution of death row prisoner Delma Banks, Jr., saying that Banks was denied a fair trial 20 years ago when prosecutors withheld crucial exculpatory evidence from the defense.

Following Acquittal of 113th Death Row Inmate, ACLU Calls for Moratorium on Executions in North Carolina (02/18/2004)
WASHINGTON - The acquittal of Alan Gell -- the nation's 113th exonerated death row inmate -- is the latest powerful evidence that North Carolina needs a moratorium on executions, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

Death Penalty : Moratorium : Publications

The Anniversary of Furman v. Georgia; Three Decades Later: Why We Need a Temporary Halt on Executions (06/27/2003)

Death Penalty : Moratorium : Legislative Documents

Sample Moratorium and Study Commission Bill (12/09/2003)

Coalition Letter Urging President Bush to Impose Federal Death Penalty Moratorium (06/04/2001)

LCCR Letter to the Senate Urging Cosponsorship of the National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001 (03/14/2001)

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