North Carolina governor vetoes death row bias rollback

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

By Wade Rawlins
RALEIGH, North Carolina | Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:00pm EDT

(Reuters) - North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue on Thursday vetoed legislation passed by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to roll back a landmark law allowing death row inmates to use evidence of racial bias to challenge their sentences.

The state's Racial Justice Act, passed in 2009, directs judges to cut a death sentence to life in prison if race is found to be a factor in jury composition or sentencing.

Perdue, a Democrat, said it was a long overdue step to make sure racism did not infect the way the death penalty was carried out. "As long as I am governor, I will fight to make sure the death penalty stays on the books in North Carolina,' Perdue said in announcing the veto.

"But it has to be carried out fairly — free of prejudice."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/29/us-usa-northcarolina-deathrow-idUSBRE85S02K20120629

[freshwest]

1. Thanks to Perdue (D) for turning back this Sick (R) piece of work.

We need more Democratic governors to stand up for people's lives.

Another true pro-life Democrat at work.

[nanabugg]

2. This is why we need strong grassroots efforts to get the vote out in State and Local elections. nt

[lsewpershad]

3. Agreed.

[freshwest]

4. +1. Start small, from tiny nuts big trees grow. I know it's acorns to oaks, but need the lulz.

Not much glory or fame, but that's how it is.

[happyslug]

5. Not mentioned on the front page of her web site.

Last edited Fri Jun 29, 2012, 02:19 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/

But is mentioned under News Items and Press releases

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemID=2492
Content of her Press release on this Veto:

“As long as I am Governor, I will fight to make sure the death penalty stays on the books in North Carolina. But it has to be carried out fairly – free of prejudice.

Three years ago, North Carolina took steps to achieve this result by passing the Racial Justice Act. In response to the enactment of this historic law, our State has rightfully received national acclaim for taking a positive and long overdue step to make sure racism does not infect the way the death penalty is administered.

Last year, Republicans in the General Assembly tried -- and failed -- to take North Carolina backwards by passing a bill that would have undone the Racial Justice Act. This year’s Senate Bill 416 is not a “compromise bill”; it guts the Racial Justice Act and renders it meaningless.

Several months ago, a North Carolina superior court judge ruling on a claim brought under the Racial Justice Act determined that racial discrimination occurred in death penalty trials across the State over a multi-year period. The judge’s findings should trouble everyone who is committed to a justice system based on fairness, integrity, and equal protection under the law. Faced with these findings, the Republican majority in the General Assembly could have tried to strengthen our efforts to fix the flaws in our system. Instead, they chose to turn a blind eye to the problem and eviscerate the Racial Justice Act. Willfully ignoring the pernicious effects of discrimination will not make those problems go away.

It is simply unacceptable for racial prejudice to play a role in the imposition of the death penalty in North Carolina.”

[duhneece]

6. What kind of justification was conjured to rollback a law that acknowledged racism?

The lack of compassion or justice for those trying to roll back the original law is staggering.

[cstanleytech]

7. Both compassion and intelligence for this generation of Republicans is in short supply. nt