Press Releases
about Capital Punishment
Nov 05, 2026
ACLU Applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All Death Sentences in California
SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that he was moving to commute all death sentences in California, marking a historic step towards ending the death penalt...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Nov 02, 2026
ACLU Presents Evidence of Racial Bias in Riverside County's Use of the Death Penalty
RIVERSIDE – The ACLU and ACLU of Southern California presented expert testimony last week proving that Black and Latine defendants are far more likely than their white counterpar...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Oct 09, 2026
ACLU Condemns Pentagon Plan to Livestream Firing Squad Execution
NEW YORK – Yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon was planning to livestream the firing squad execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan for t...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Oct 06, 2026
NH Supreme Court Rules “Disproportionality” of Death Penalty for Only Man on Death Row Cannot be Reviewed
No state has executed a person previously condemned to die under a since-repealed statute – but today’s decision is not the last word
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: New Hampshire v. Michael Addison
Sep 11, 2026
ACLU and ACLU of Mississippi Urge Court to Consider Racial Discrimination in Willie Manning Case
JACKSON, Ms. – The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Mississippi, and partners filed an amicus brief today urging the Mississippi Supreme Court to consider Willie Manni...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
May 21, 2026
Statement on Tennessee’s Torturous Execution Attempt of Tony Carruthers
NASHVILLE – This morning, Tennessee carried out a botched and torturous attempt to execute Tony Carruthers despite the state’s continued refusal to conduct forensic testing tha...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
The Latest in Capital Punishment
-
News & CommentaryOct 2026
Capital Punishment
+4 Issues
This Supreme Court Term: Our Rights And Freedoms At Stake. Explore News & Commentary.This Supreme Court Term: Our Rights and Freedoms at Stake
The ACLU could have its busiest Supreme Court term ever, with potential cases on immigration, voting rights, and religious freedom in schools. -
Tennessee Supreme CourtAug 2026
Capital Punishment
Free Speech
Assoc. Press V. Nelsen. Explore Case.Assoc. Press v. Nelsen
Tennessee’s execution policies prevent the press from witnessing critical stages before and after a state execution. However, the public needs to know how they work—or don’t work—to participate in informed public debate. The ACLU’s State Supreme Court Initiative, alongside the ACLU of Tennessee, filed an amicus brief explaining why a provision in the Tennessee Constitution that guarantees access to government proceedings requires greater press access to executions. -
Tennessee Supreme CourtApr 2026
Capital Punishment
Tony Von Carruthers V. State Of Tennessee. Explore Case.Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
On May 21, 2026, Tennessee carried out a botched and torturous attempt to execute Tony Carruthers despite the state’s continued refusal to conduct forensic testing that could prove he was wrongfully convicted. After nearly 90 minutes, the execution was halted by a one-year reprieve from Governor Bill Lee. Mr. Carruthers remains at risk of another execution attempt, and the state continues to deny fingerprint and DNA testing. -
News & CommentaryJan 2026
Capital Punishment
Executions Spiked In 2025, But The Death Penalty Is Still Losing Ground. Explore News & Commentary.Executions Spiked in 2025, but the Death Penalty Is Still Losing Ground
As executions surged to their highest level in years, public support, jury verdicts, and new death sentences continued a historic decline—exposing a punishment sustained by political power, not public will.