death penalty

4/24/13 - Panel

Joe Donahue — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Ray Graf, and Stephen Gottlieb, the Jay and Ruth Caplan Distinguished Professor at Albany Law School.

This morning our discussion topics include:
• The Death Penalty
• Miranda Rights
• Surveillance and Privacy
• Justice in the era of the 24-Hour news cycle

State Senator Defends Tweet, Calls For Death Penalty for Cop Killers

Allison Dunne — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:37:14 +0000

Following the Boston Marathon bombings, a New York state Senator is renewing his call for the death penalty. He also says he’s not opposed to torture, under certain circumstances, and is standing by a tweet that made national headlines.

Following the capture of Boston Marathon bomber suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Republican state Senator from the Hudson Valley Greg Ball tweeted Friday night, quote “So, scumbag #2 in custody. Who wouldn’t use torture on this punk to save more lives?”

Conn. Supreme Court takes up death penalty appeal

Lucas Willard — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Connecticut’s Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the recent repeal of the state’s death penalty applies only to future defendants.

The state's highest court granted a request on Thursday by Eduardo Santiago to challenge the repeal's impact on those who committed capital crimes before the law was passed. He was convicted in a murder-for-hire plot that promised him a broken snowmobile.

The death penalty was repealed in April, but it was preserved for 11 inmates on death row and for pending cases.

5 CT Inmates Challenging Death Penalty

Lucas Willard — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Connecticut death row inmates who have sued the state to get their sentences overturned argue that race and geographic bias played a part in their prosecution. WAMC’s Lucas Willard has more….

Five of the 11 men on Connecticut's death row are plaintiffs. They claim their penalty was arbitrary and discriminatory.

Their lawsuit went to trial Wednesday at the Northern Correctional Institution in Somers.

CT Abolishes State’s Death Penalty

Lucas Willard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:14 +0000

Connecticut's governor has signed a new law that abolishes the state's death penalty for future crimes. WAMC’s Lucas Willard reports…

A spokeswoman says Democratic Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed the bill Wednesday afternoon at a private ceremony with lawmakers, clergy and family members of victims.

Malloy issued a statement calling it "an historic moment" as Connecticut joins 16 other states that have abolished capital punishment. He said it was a moment "for sober reflection, not celebration."

CT On Track to be 17th State Sans Death Penalty

Tristan O'Neill — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:21:39 +0000

Connecticut is on track to become the fifth state in five years to abolish the death penalty amid what supporters say is a growing national sentiment against executing prisoners. WAMC's Tristan O'Neill reports...

The state Senate approved a repeal bill 20-16 early Thursday. It now goes to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers say the legislation has strong support.
Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy has said he will sign it into law.