Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

New Mexico Bans Death Penalty

Guv abolishes executions after wrestling with conscience

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2009 3:14 AM CDT

(Newser) – New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has signed a bill abolishing the state's death penalty, reports the Santa Fe New Mexican. Richardson, who formerly supported capital punishment, said replacing execution with life in prison without the possibility of parole was “the most difficult decision of... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

5 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Miami Face-Eater Identified

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

New Mexican (Source Grid »)
CNN (Source Grid »)

US • Crime & Courts

death penalty • Bill Richardson • New Mexico • lethal injection • execution • capital punishment

More Newser Stories

California Holds Off on Executions for 6th Year

San Quentin warden asks for time to replace execution team

(NEWSER) - Officials in California have given up on efforts to resume executing convicts this year, meaning that the state will have gone at least 6 years without executions. A review of lethal injection procedures has been delayed until at least January because the new warden of San Quentin prison wants to recruit a new 20-person execution team to replace the one that was assembled and trained last year, reports the Los Angeles Times . More»

Ga. Executes Inmate Who Attempted Suicide

Triple murderer dies by lethal injection

(NEWSER) - A Georgia inmate who tried to kill himself last week was executed by lethal injection last night after the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal for a stay of execution. Brandon Rhode, 31—convicted of the 1998 murders of a trucking company owner, his 11-year-old son, and his 15-year-old daughter—had his execution postponed after slashing his throat and wrists, the AP reports. More»

Execution Ban Lifted, States Ready the Death Chambers

With Supreme Court's blessing, officials move to play catch-up

(NEWSER) - States are getting ready to catch up on executions now that a Supreme Court moratorium has been lifted, the New York Times reports. At least 14 executions have been scheduled in six states in coming months. "The Supreme Court has essentially blessed their way of doing things," a legal expert said. "They’re back from vacation and ready to go to work." More»

China Gets 'Gold Medal' for Executions

World leader doesn't report thousands more, Amnesty says

(NEWSER) - China's 470 executions in 2007 make it the world's leader, according to Amnesty International's annual report on the worldwide state of capital punishment. But even that number is likely low, the group says, with the real number probably in the thousands. "China gets the 'gold medal' for global executions," Amnesty's British director told the BBC. More»

Executions Drop to 13-Year Low

42 people put to death in '07; further decline could follow Court ruling

(NEWSER) - With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments Jan. 7 about lethal-injection procedures, figures show that US states executed just 42 people this year, a 13-year low. The case before the court has prompted states using lethal injection to execute inmates to stay pending executions; on Monday, New Jersey became this first state since 1965 to abolish the death penalty. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

New Mexico Bans Death Penalty

Guv abolishes executions after wrestling with conscience

death penalty • Bill Richardson • New Mexico • lethal injection • execution • capital punishment

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

California Holds Off on Executions for 6th Year

San Quentin warden asks for time to replace execution team

Ga. Executes Inmate Who Attempted Suicide

Triple murderer dies by lethal injection

Execution Ban Lifted, States Ready the Death Chambers

With Supreme Court's blessing, officials move to play catch-up

China Gets 'Gold Medal' for Executions

World leader doesn't report thousands more, Amnesty says

Executions Drop to 13-Year Low

42 people put to death in '07; further decline could follow Court ruling

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?