legislation

It’s Official: Maryland Abolishes the Death Penalty!

May 2, 2013 Kristin abolition, death penalty, legislation, Maryland

Moments ago, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill that repeals the death penalty. Maryland is now the 18th death penalty-free state. According to the Baltimore Sun, the death penalty had been on the books in Maryland for more than 300 years. Congratulations to our colleagues in Maryland and everyone who worked […]

Dallas County District Attorney Agrees to Another Delay in Execution of Kimberly McCarthy

March 29, 2013April 2, 2013 Kristin Craig Watkins, Dallas, death penalty, legislation, racial bias, Stay of execution, Texas

*Update* State District Judge Larry Mitchell has ordered a modification of Kimberly McCarthy’s execution date to June 26, 2013. This comes after Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins agreed with a motion by McCarthy’s attorney to move the date based on pending legislation that may limit the application of the death penalty.

Maryland Senate Passes Abolition Legislation

March 6, 2013 Kristin abolition, death penalty, DNA Exoneration, legislation, Maryland, Witness to Innocence, Wrongfully Convicted

Earlier today, the Maryland Senate passed SB 276, a bill to replace the death penalty with life without parole, by a vote of 27-20. The vote occurred after three days of debate. It was the first time in decades that the full Senate considered repeal legislation, as previous efforts in that body had been blocked by […]

Texas Carries Out Its First Execution of the Year; Maryland Committee Passes Repeal

February 22, 2013 Kristin abolition, Brazos County, capital punishment, death penalty, executions, legislation, Texas

Last night, February 21, 2013, the State of Texas executed Carl Blue for the 1994 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Carmen Richards-Sanders, in Bryan. It was the first execution to take place in Texas this year and the third nationwide. The State of Georgia also carried out an execution last night, putting Andrew Allen Cook to death for the […]

Elected Officials, Former Judges, Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Officers Call for DNA Testing for Hank Skinner

October 27, 2011October 27, 2011 Kristin 3 Comments death penalty, DNA testing, execution, forensic science, Governor Rick Perry, Hank Skinner, legislation, Mark White, Sam Millsap, Texas

Today, former judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers, along with current and former elected officials from Texas, delivered a letter to state officials calling on them not to execute Mr. Skinner until that DNA testing can be performed. The letter was sent to Governor Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Gray County District Attorney Lynn Switzer.

Hank Skinner Files Motion for DNA Testing

September 6, 2011September 6, 2011 Kristin civil rights law, death penalty, DNA testing, execution, Hank Skinner, legislation, Texas, U.S. Supreme Court

Today, attorneys for Texas death row inmate Hank Skinner issued the following press release regarding a new motion for DNA testing under a state law that went into effect on September 1, 2011. Skinner has been scheduled for execution on November 9, 2011, even though key pieces of evidence from the crime scene have never […]

May Alert – Scheduled Executions, News and Events

May 2, 2011May 2, 2011 tcadp 48 Hours, Anthony Graves, executions, Houston, legislation, Sam Millsap, San Antonio, TCADP

In this alert: Scheduled Executions, News and Events, Calendar. Learn more about the current legislative update, the upcoming San Antonio Meet and Greet, and the Houston Speaker’s Training.

March Alert: Lobby Day and Coming Events

March 1, 2011March 4, 2011 tcadp 1 Comment Annual Conference, Anthony Graves, Juan Melendez, legislation, Religious Leaders

Learn more about the Lobby Day scheduled for next Tuesday, March 8, see the videos from the Religious Leaders Dialogue Panel held in Houston, and the pictures from the TCADP Annual Conference held in February. And don’t miss the calendar of events happening around the state!