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New Jersey Abolishes the Death Penalty


Update: A transcript of Gov. Corzine's remarks is here.

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine today signed the bill passed by the N.J. legislature last week abolishing the state's death penalty. (Background here.)

In an extended and often passionate speech from his office at the state capitol, Mr. Corzine declared an end to what he called “state-endorsed killing,” and said that New Jersey could serve as a model for other states.

“Today New Jersey is truly evolving,” he said. “I believe society first must determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence, and if violence undermines our commitment to the sanctity of life. To these questions, I answer yes.”

New Jersey is the first state to legislatively ban the death penalty in more than 40 years. The eight men on New Jersey's death row will now serve life in prison without parole.

In Rome, Italy, lights will flush through the arches of the Coliseum for 24 hours in recognition of the repeal.

States that still have the death penalty include: [More]

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

States without the death penalty:

Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

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  • Display: Sort:
    At last, some good news! (none / 0) (#1)
    by caramel on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 03:12:59 PM EST
    Let's hope it won't be an isolated event though!

    Congratulations (none / 0) (#2)
    by Al on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 08:16:00 PM EST
    to the good people of the state of New Jersey. Here's hoping the example will spread.

    YIPEE (none / 0) (#3)
    by Kewalo on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:03:36 PM EST
    I am just delighted with this news. I wasn't even aware that there was anything in the works.

    Well, that's one. Now to go after the rest. I'll bet that Gov. Corzine gets lots of hate mail over this so I'm going to try and send a kudos email to him.

    Michigan is far, far from perfect, (none / 0) (#4)
    by clio on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:12:02 PM EST
    but since attaining statehood Michigan has never executed an innocent man.