Death Penalty Abolition News

by Death Penalty Information Center on July 23, 2019 at 7:59 pm

A divided Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the state’s death-penalty statute against a challenge to its requirement that the trial judge decide a capital defendant’s sentence in cases of a penalty-phase hung jury. In a […]

by Death Penalty Information Center on July 22, 2019 at 7:32 pm

In a highly publicized death-penalty trial, Brendt Christensen (pictured) was sentenced to life in prison without parole on July 18, 2019 for the rape and murder of Chinese graduate student Yingying Zhang when a federal jury in Peoria, Illinois did not reach […]

by Death Penalty Information Center on July 19, 2019 at 4:05 pm

Calling Governor Gavin Newsom’s moratorium on executions a “paradigm shift” in the death-penalty landscape, a defendant facing the death penalty in Los Angeles has petitioned the California Supreme Court to halt capital prosecutions in the […]

by Death Penalty Information Center on July 18, 2019 at 11:25 pm

Citing race disparities, ineffective representation by court-appointed lawyers, and arbitrary case outcomes, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to strike down the state’s death penalty. In a brief […]

by Kristin on July 1, 2019 at 3:27 pm

In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you'll find updates on exonerations in Texas and nationwide, as well as a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a conviction due to egregious racial bias in the jury selection process. We also mark the […]

by Kristin on June 3, 2019 at 12:30 pm

In this edition of our monthly alert, you'll learn about the most recent state to abandon the death penalty. There's also a legislative recap and details about special events this month in Dallas and Houston. […]

by Kristin on May 1, 2019 at 3:07 pm

In this edition of our monthly alert, you'll find details on a new film about the true Texas story of Cameron Todd Willingham, as well as coverage of two recent reports, the debut novel of attorney David R. Dow, and the stay of execution for Dexter Johnson. […]

by Kristin on May 1, 2019 at 2:13 pm

A federal judge has stayed the execution of Dexter Johnson, scheduled for May 2, after determining his newly-appointed lawyer needed more time to review the case and investigate any undeveloped claims. […]

on July 22, 2019 at 7:45 am

On the occasion of the meeting of its Steering Committee on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June 2019, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty has invited the director of Responsible Business Initiative Against the Death Penalty, Ms. Celia […]

on July 10, 2019 at 8:38 am

On 10 October 2019, the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty aims at raising awareness on the rights of children whose parents have been sentenced to death or executed. […]

on July 3, 2019 at 9:21 am

The letter, co-signed by 58 organizations, encourages the President of Sri Lanka to do everything in his power to stop executions in Sri Lanka and consign the death penalty to the history books. […]

on June 28, 2019 at 8:25 am

As the worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty grows, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty notes with concerns that the USA has reached a total of 1500 executions since 1977. […]

by James Clark on November 4, 2016 at 4:29 pm

At a recent public debate of California’s competing ballot initiatives on the death penalty, Paul Pfingst, a former district attorney for San Diego County and a supporter of Prop 66, spoke about the role race plays in the death penalty. … Please […]

by James Clark on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Troy was on death row for over two decades before he was finally executed. In that time he became a leader himself in the movement to end the death penalty, with his steadfast spirit and unshakeable faith in justice inspiring activists around the world. […]

by Guest Writer on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

By Savannah Fox, Field Organizer Five years ago today, on September 21st, I became an activist. I didn’t sign my first petition or attended my first rally. I found my passion, my anger and my hope as an activist, all … Please continue reading. […]

by James Clark on August 17, 2016 at 9:41 pm

As death sentences and executions dwindle around the country and most states are abandoning the death penalty, a few states are determined to keep executions rolling. Top of the list is Texas, the state that’s now gearing up to execute a man who never […]