Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Wednesday announced he would commute the sentences of Maryland’s remaining four death row inmates to life without parole.
In a statement, O’Malley acknowledged that the state abolished the death penalty in 2013 and the subsequent legal debate over what to do about earlier death sentences.
“Recent appeals and the latest opinion on this matter by Maryland’s Attorney General have called into question the legality of carrying out earlier death sentences — sentences imposed prior to abolition,” the statement read.
“In fact, the Attorney General has opined that the carrying out of prior sentences is now illegal in the absence of an existing statute,” it continued.
After noting that he had met with the victims’ families, O’Malley said he had decided to close the pathways to further appeals and legal maneuvers by commuting the sentences of the final four death row inmates.
“In the final analysis, there is one truth that stands between and before all of us. That truth is this — few of us would ever wish for our children or grandchildren to kill another human being or to take part in the killing of another human being,” said the governor’s statement. “The legislature has expressed this truth by abolishing the death penalty in Maryland.”
“For these reasons, I intend to commute Maryland’s four remaining death sentences to life without the possibility of parole,” it concluded.
Bravo, Gov. O’Malley! And thank you. Thank you so very much for your just and decent act of humanity.
I only wish governors of benighted states would follow your example, and that the people of America would rise up and demand an end everywhere to the national shame of capital punishment.
¨“In the final analysis, there is one truth that stands between and before all of us. That truth is this — few of us would ever wish for our children or grandchildren to kill another human being or to take part in the killing of another human being," said the governor’s statement.¨
That’s why I don’t want the state to murder in my name. Thank you, Gov. O’Malley.
I am big fan of his and I hope he runs for President and if Warren doesn’t run,he’s my choice. This guy is far brighter and promising than most people realize
That’s exactly how I feel about capital punishment. The whole concept is bizarre to me.
Nice job of wrapping up the legal details here. It will save a lot of money and time while assuring these four condemned people will live unhappily ever after.