Crow's Nest

Some interesting updates in Maryland dp developments: (Washington Post)

Some death penalty opponents say they probably have the votes to pass a full repeal in the House this session. Even if they are short in the Senate, some say, it would be a mistake to compromise.

A court ruling in December halted executions until the state issues new regulations on lethal injection. Jane Henderson, executive director of Maryland Citizens Against State Executions, said she thinks it is unlikely that executions will resume before next year's legislative session, when odds of a repeal would be no worse.

"I think a year from now, we'll still have an effective moratorium," Henderson said. She also said that it makes no sense to reserve the death penalty for narrow classes of offenders. "My view is, this is about whether we should have the death penalty or not."

Richard J. Dowling, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said that a bill that stops short of a full repeal could be expanded. "A door that is ajar only slightly can be pushed wide open," he said.