Trenton, N.J., Nov 12, 2007 / 08:19 am
New Jersey legislators are considering abolishing the state's death penalty within the next two months, the Associated Press reports.
The state has not executed anyone in 44 years. If approved by the legislature and the governor, New Jersey would become the first state to abolish capital punishment since the Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976.
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Jr., speaking of the proposal, said "the time has come."
Speaker Roberts met with Sister Helen Prejean, the Catholic sister who is a famous death penalty abolitionist. Her book "Dead Man Walking" told of her experience as a spiritual adviser to inmates on death row. The book was made into an Oscar-winning movie.