Death penalty Archives

Texas ends clergy, spiritual advisers ban in death chamber

Apr 23, 2021

Texas prisons have resumed allowing clergy as well as spiritual advisers in the death chamber, reversing a two-year ban created after the U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution of an inmate who had argued his religious freedom was being violated because his Buddhist spiritual adviser wasn’t allowed to accompany him, officials said Thursday.

By Juan A. Lozano

Advocates, editorials call on Biden to end federal death penalty

Apr 20, 2021

The death penalty has been getting attention across the country this year with legislation introduced or voted on in several states aimed at limiting, repealing or even renewing capital punishment.

By Carol Zimmermann

Governor signs death penalty repeal at site of 101 executions since 1991

Mar 26, 2021

While standing outside the prison that housed Virginia’s execution chamber, Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in the state March 24.

By Zoey Maraist

Religion and the death penalty collide at the Supreme Court

Feb 13, 2021

The Supreme Court is sending a message to states that want to continue to carry out the death penalty: Inmates must be allowed to have a spiritual adviser by their side as they are executed.

By Jessica Gresko

Pastor, man set to die, faith at core of discrimination suit

Feb 13, 2021

A pastor, a condemned prisoner and their faith are at the center of a religious discrimination claim that triggered a late injunction from a federal appeals court on Wednesday.

By Melissa Brown, Montgomery Advertiser

Alabama cancels execution after court requires pastor

Feb 12, 2021

An Alabama inmate on Thursday won a reprieve from a scheduled lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court said the state must allow his personal pastor in the death chamber.

By Kim Chandler

Virginia General Assembly votes to ban death penalty; governor supports move

Feb 6, 2021

Both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate have now passed bills that would abolish the death penalty in the state.

By Zoey Maraist

Prayer vigils in Virginia call for end to death penalty

Jan 26, 2021

At some of the prayer vigils for an end of the death penalty in Virginia Jan. 22 — held in locations across the state, including sites where lynchings took place — the names of those killed were read aloud.

By Carol Zimmermann