The Delaware Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty law in a three to two decision.
Gov. Jack Markell issued the following statement:
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s finding that the state’s death penalty law is unconstitutional. As I have come to see after careful consideration, the use of capital punishment is an instrument of imperfect justice that doesn’t make us any safer. The important concerns of death penalty proponents must be balanced by the examples of flawed testimony, innocent people on death row being exonerated, and other facts that weigh strongly against the use capital punishment. While I would have supported abolishing the death penalty legislatively, it is my hope that today’s decision will mean that we never see another death sentence in our state.”
Cong. and gubernatorial candidate John Carney issued the following:
“As a former member of the Board of Pardons, I have had more occasion to contemplate the death penalty than most. Over the last several years, after a lot of study and reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a punishment that is too flawed for it to be considered fair or just. I support the Supreme Court’s decision in its ruling today.”
