New Jersey Moves Toward Abolishing Death Penalty

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ New Jersey would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment under a bill released by a legislative panel. <br/><br/>The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted

Friday, May 11th 2007, 7:18 am

By: News On 6

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ New Jersey would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment under a bill released by a legislative panel.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-2 on Thursday to move the measure ahead. If approved by the Legislature and Gov. John S. Corzine, New Jersey would be the first state to legislatively abolish capital punishment since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to reinstate it in 1976.

New Jersey reinstated the death penalty in 1982 but has not executed anyone since 1963. The Legislature imposed an execution moratorium in December 2005 when it formed a commission that studied the death penalty.

The bill stems from the commission's January report that found the death penalty was a more expensive sentence than life in prison and did not deter murder.

Death penalty supporters pointed to the six men accused of planning to attack New Jersey's Fort Dix as examples of why execution was necessary.

``Only in New Jersey could the headlines on Wednesday read 'Terrorist attack on Fort Dix foiled' and on Friday read, 'Senate poised to abolish the death penalty,' ``said Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Bergen.