Constitutional Law

N.M. Gov. Signs Death Penalty Repeal

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signed a bill repealing the state's death penalty, saying it was the 'most difficult decision in my political life.' New Mexico and New Jersey are the only states that have discontinued use of the death penalty.

'Regardless of my personal opinion about the death penalty, I do not have confidence in the criminal justices system as it currently operates to be the final arbiter when it comes to who lives and who dies for their crime,' Richardson said upon signing the measure. 'If the state is going to undertake this awesome responsibility, the system to impose this ultimate penalty must be perfect and can never be wrong.'

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Richardson (right), a supporter of capital punishment, did not come to a final decision on the bill until after visiting a state prison where he saw cells housing prisoners for life. 'My conclusion was those cells are something that may be worse than death,' Richardson said.

The law takes effect on July 1. The Sentencing Law and Policy blog asks whether officials in New Mexico will still try to carry out death sentences before the law takes effect, noting that Richards told reporters he would not commute the death sentences of two men on death row.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on March 19, 2009 (boomark / email).