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A telling and troubling gubenatorial veto in New Mexico after death's repeal

By Douglas A. Berman

This local story out of New Mexico, headlined "Governor vetoes teen sentencing change," provides further support for my enduring concerning that anti-death penalty advocacy and developments have a way of sapping political energy and interest in other progressive sentencing reforms.  Here is the basic story, with my commentary to follow: When Gov. Bill Richardson showed up at the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum on March 27 to sign the veteran's museum bill and meet with constituents, he was greeted by District Attorney Susana Martinez and family members of slain teenager Ashley Wax, all of whom urged him to veto a bill that would have given judges more discretion in the sentencing of juvenile murderers. Richardson conceded at the time that he wasn't aware of the legislation, Senate Bill 7, but he vowed that he would review it...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on April 09, 2009 (boomark / email).