Home : Death Penalty

ACLU Calls for Restraint in Yates Sentencing (03/12/2002)
Statement of Diann Rust-Tierney, Director,ACLU Capital Punishment Project

High Court Considers Constitutionality of Executing Mentally Retarded (02/20/2002)
WASHINGTON--In a case whose outcome could affect death row inmates across the nation, the United States Supreme Court today will consider whether executions of people with mental retardation violates the Constitution's ban against ""cruel and unusual punishment."" 

As Mounting Evidence Proves Serious Errors in Death Penalty System, the Federal Government Should Call for Execution Moratorium (02/11/2002)
WASHINGTON -- The Columbia University study released today, "A Broken System, Part II: Why There Is So Much Error in Capital Cases, and What Can Be Done About It," concludes that the nation's death penalty system is "collapsing under the weight" of errors. 

Discarded Abu-Jamal Death Sentence More Proof of Death Penalty System Plagued By Ineffective Counsel, ACLU Says (12/18/2001)
WASHINGTON--Today's decision by U.S. District Judge William Yohn to throw out Mumia Abu-Jamal's death sentence due to improper courtroom procedure underscores the point that our nation's death penalty system is riddled with flaws. 

With Oklahoma State Justice System in Crisis, State Poised to Take National Lead in Executions From Texas (12/04/2001)
WASHINGTON - We today call on Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating to impose a moratorium on executions as his state's death penalty system finds itself in uncharted waters with more and more cases involving false testimony presented by former Oklahoma City Forensic Chemist Joyce Gilchrist coming under the scrutiny of investigators and a grand jury. 

ACLU Calls on New Mexico's Governor to Halt State's First Execution in More than 41 Years (11/06/2001)
ALBUQUERQUE--The American Civil Liberties Union and its New Mexico affiliate today join other groups in opposing the first execution in the state of New Mexico in almost a half-century.

National ACLU Director Anthony Romero is Keynote Speaker at ACLU of PA Civil Liberties Dinner Tonight Honoring Death Penalty Lawyers (10/18/2001)
PHILADELPHIA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania will honor the Defender Association of Philadelphia at its 20th Annual Civil Liberties Award Dinner here tonight. The evening, entitled, "Defending Freedom," will feature a keynote address by Anthony Romero, the new executive director of the national ACLU. 

ACLU Criticizes Death Penalty Prosecution of Andrea Yates, Renews Call for Moratorium on Flawed System Statement of Diann Rust-Tierney, Director, ACLU Capital Punishment Project and Will Harrell, Executive Director, ACLU of Texas (08/31/2001)
WASHINGTON--The decision by Texas prosecutors to seek the death penalty in the case of Andrea P. Yates is yet another sign that the capital punishment system in America is seriously flawed. Today we renew our call for a moratorium on the death penalty and we urge Texas to reconsider its decision. 

ACLU Urges Congress to Ensure Competent Counsel in Death Penalty Cases; Says Tragic Examples Demonstrate Flaws in Current System (06/27/2001)
WASHINGTON -- Citing numerous examples of incompetent counsel in recent death penalty cases and inequities in the imposition of capital punishment in America, the American Civil Liberties Union called upon Congress today to ensure effective legal representation for all defendants facing possible execution. 

ACLU Calls Upon Congress to Enact a Federal Moratorium on Executions (06/19/2001)
WASHINGTON -- In the aftermath of the second federal execution in as many weeks, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to immediately pass a moratorium on further federal executions.