NACDL Applauds Abolition of the Death Penalty in New Hampshire -- Washington, DC (May 30, 2019) – This morning, the New Hampshire legislature overrode Governor Sununu’s veto of its legislation repealing the death penalty, making New Hampshire the last state in New England, and the 21st state in the nation, to abolish or overturn the death penalty. Earlier this session, the New Hampshire House and Senate had both passed legislation to repeal the death penalty by veto-proof majorities. 

Death Penalty Condemned at U.N. - Washington, DC (April 7, 1998) -- "Capital punishment in the United States is a direct descendant of lynching and other forms of racial violence," a representative of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) told the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland last week.

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Applauds Repeal of the Death Penalty in Colorado -- Washington, DC (March 23, 2020) – This afternoon, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill repealing the death penalty in Colorado, making Colorado the 22nd state in the United States, in addition to the District of Columbia, to abolish or overturn the death penalty.

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Death Penalty Moratorium in California; Praises Governor Gavin Newsom -- Washington, DC (Mar. 13, 2019) – Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom made history, signing an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty in California. This means that, for now, there will be no further state-sponsored executions in California, which has the largest number of people – 737 – on death row in the country. As of 2018, there were 2,743 people serving on death row across America. 

Supreme Court Declines to Re-impose Death Sentence - Washington, DC­ (May 21, 2007) – The U.S. Supreme Court today dismissed the state’s appeal of a lower court decision which threw out a Missouri prisoner’s death sentence. A majority of the Court, in an unsigned “per curiam” opinion, relied on an argument made by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, in a “friend of the court” brief, that the trial court misinterpreted the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) and federal case law when it dismissed death row inmate William Weaver’s...

Defense Bar Opposes Guantanamo Death Penalty Proceedings - Washington, DC (May 31, 2011) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) opposes military commissions and maintains that the federal courts have proven to be an unparalleled instrument for trying terrorism cases. That Defense Department prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in such a flawed system is particularly egregious and possibly constitutes a new low in the recent history of American jurisprudence.

Mexican President Fox to receive award from NACDL for advocacy against death penalty - Washington, DC (February 20, 2003) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers will present its Champion of Justice award to Mexican President Vicente Fox at a ceremony tomorrow during its annual Spring Meeting, being held this year in Cancun, Mexico.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Urges Utah Governor to Veto Death by Firing Squad Legislation -- Washington, DC (March 20, 2015) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is strongly urging Utah Governor Gary Herbert to veto House Bill 11 that would amend Utah's death penalty statute to reinstate executions by firing squad. Utah had abolished execution by firing squad in 2004. Only one state in the nation – Oklahoma -- has a law that would permit execution by this method. No other developed nation permits execution by firing squad.

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Applauds Nebraska’s Courageous Legislature on its Successful Repeal of the Death Penalty -- Washington, DC (May 27, 2015) -- Last week, the Nebraska legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation to repeal the death penalty in that state in favor of life without parole. While there are 10 people on Nebraska’s death row, no one has been executed since 1997.

Nebraska at the Vanguard of the Movement to Abolish the Death Penalty -- Washington, DC (May 26, 2015) – Last week, the Nebraska legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation to repeal the death penalty in that state in favor of life without parole. While there are 10 people on Nebraska’s death row, no one has been executed since 1997. The vote to repeal was 32 to 15 in Nebraska’s 49-seat unicameral legislature, a veto-proof majority. Nonetheless, both prior to and subsequent to the vote, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts promised to veto the legislation. Today, he made good on that promise. 

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Praises Pennsylvania Moratorium on the Death Penalty -- Washington, DC (February 13, 2015) – Earlier today, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf suspended the death penalty in Pennsylvania. While it is reported that Pennsylvania has not executed any prisoners since 1999, the state does have approximately 186 people currently on death row.