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State executes Michael Wayne Eggers

Thursday, the state of Alabama executed Michael Wayne Eggers for the 2000 murder of Bennie Francis Murray. After being notified that Mr. Eggers’ sentence had been carried out, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commented on the execution. “Mr. Eggers was convicted of brutally beating and then murdering Mrs. Francis Murray, who was simply trying to help … Continued
March 16, 2018

Senate Judiciary Committee approves execution by nitrogen asphyxiation

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill Wednesday that would allow death row inmates to select death by nitrogen hypoxia as one of the three approved death penalty methods used by the state of Alabama. Senate Bill 272 is sponsored by state Sen. Trip Pittman, … Continued
February 16, 2018

House Republican Caucus releases legislative agenda

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Thursday, the Alabama House Republican Caucus released its 2018 “Flag, Family, and Country” legislative agenda. House Republicans say that it is a package of nine measures designed to provide protections for Alabama families, extend benefits to active duty soldiers and military veterans and encourage respect for the U.S. Flag … Continued
December 18, 2017

Trust in the midst of Death Penalty adjudication

Dr. Harold J. Bursztajn, M.D. Harvard Medical School The “Houdini” of Alabama’s Death Row, Tommy Arthur, a convicted murder, 75 years of age, was just executed after escaping execution on the seven previous occasions that he was scheduled to die. Even now, questions linger about the about the fairness of the process. Death is never … Continued
May 29, 2017

House committee OKs bill to shorten death penalty appeal times

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A House committee gave a favorable report to a Senate bill Tuesday that would shorten the time frame for death penalty appeals in an effort to reduce the number of years that can pass while an inmate stays on death row. The bill would require death row inmates to … Continued
May 10, 2017

Senate Judiciary Committee approves bill allowing death penalty by nitrogen asphyxiation

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, April 5, 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to Senate Bill 12 that would add nitrogen asphyxiation to the death penalty manner choices for condemned felons. SB12 is sponsored by Senator Trip Pittman (R-Montrose). Senator Pittman told the Committee that he wanted to provide condemned … Continued
April 6, 2017

The end to judicial override in Alabama is imminent

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Alabama’s death penalty sentencing system, which allows judges to override a jury’s recommendation for life in prison, may soon be changing to put the Yellowhammer State in line with all other states that allow capital punishment. On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill … Continued
April 5, 2017

Let judicial override be gone forever

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Most readers know that I oppose the death penalty. I don’t believe the State should ever take something from somebody it can’t make right. When the State kills a person, the State can’t take that back. The person is dead. I understand and, indeed, agree that there are crimes … Continued
April 5, 2017

Bill to end judicial override in Alabama clears Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would end Alabama’s judicial override sentencing system, which allows judges to override juries and impose the death penalty, passed the State Senate Thursday with a near-unanimous vote. Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery), sponsored the bill, which would prohibit a judge from overriding a jury’s sentence. Under … Continued
February 24, 2017