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Sunday, January 04, 2015

Governor O’Malley Issues Statement on the Four Remaining Inmates Sentenced to Death in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor O’Malley today issued the following statement on the sentences of the four remaining inmates sentenced to death in Maryland:

“In a representative government, state executions make every citizen a party to a legalized killing as punishment.

“Two years ago, after much debate and consideration, the Maryland General Assembly abolished the death penalty in our State replacing the sentence with life without the possibility of parole.

“The General Assembly’s abolition of the death penalty was not challenged in referendum.

“There are four inmates who currently sit on Maryland’s death row.

“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. In fact, the Attorney General has opined that the carrying out of prior sentences is now illegal in the absence of an existing statute.

“I have now met or spoken with many of the survivors of the victims of these brutal murders.

“They are all good and decent people who have generously granted me the courtesy of discussing the cases of their individual family members. I am deeply grateful and appreciative of their willingness to speak with me.

“They have borne their grief bravely along with the additional torment of an un-ending legal process. If endless death penalty appeals were to continue, these family members would, no doubt, persevere through that process with continued courage and fortitude. Of this I have no doubt.

“The question at hand is whether any public good is served by allowing these essentially un-executable sentences to stand.

“In my judgment, leaving these death sentences in place does not serve the public good of the people of Maryland — present or future.

“Gubernatorial inaction — at this point in the legal process — would, in my judgment, needlessly and callously subject survivors, and the people of Maryland, to the ordeal of an endless appeals process, with unpredictable twists and turns, and without any hope of finality or closure.

“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. 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 is my hope that these commutations might bring about a greater degree of closure for all of the survivors and their families.”

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this good or bad for the Atkinson family?

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, you can't kill a hardened criminal that can't be rehabilitated and would continue their crime spree if released, but feel free to murder all the innocent defenseless babies you like. Hey omalley, don't try to make me a "party to a legalized killing"

Anonymous said...

Poor Mrs. Dotty! It is bad for the Atkinson family. Love and support from your bus route!

Anonymous said...

A terrible thing and not one I would brag about. These people got the death penalty for a reason.

But true to his liberal ideology, Martin feels sorry for the guys who murder yet has no problem killing babies.

Anonymous said...

Soft hearted liberal P.O.S. I hope he experiences someone murdering his loved one.

Anonymous said...

I hope he experiences someone murdering his loved one.

December 31, 2014 at 1:47 PM

you are not a nice person

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to figure out who here has the godlike powers to be able to determine who can be rehabilitated and who can't. Prison doesn't attempt that. It abuses and extorts the prisoners families wealth. As an example, charging inmates 70 cents for a ramen noodle that cost 18 at Sam's Club and feeding them undercooked beans twice a day often, essentially starving them into purchases.

Anonymous said...

Of course they aren't nice. They're bitter old men.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you have to walk a mile in another's shoes before you can understand. I didn't write this but needed to respond to your comment. Have you had a loved one murdered? Your child at that? Don't judge until you can 100% say you have been there. I know if someone murdered my child...I'd make sure he / she will be dead before he crosses the bay bridge to prison!

Anonymous said...

We now lead the world for people in prisons. We are ahead of #2 China by half a million prisoners. Mostly non-violent drug offenders. The only crime most of them commit is using drugs in their bodies, a crime against themselves.

I am also sure some commit petty crimes to get money to buy drugs. None of which require lengthy prison sentences.

Prisons are over crowded with these types of offenders but they are a money maker for the prison system especially the private prisons. More prisoners = more money.

Meanwhile, wall street criminals, bankers and other white collar criminals who steal millions, billions, walk free after ruining many people's lives.

When exactly did justice die in this country? Anybody know?

Anonymous said...

it's a business like any other!