Cases and articles

During my eight years as governor of Maryland, I never had to confront the hardest decision a governor can face: whether to allow an execution to proceed.

I am not sorry I missed such a life-or-death choice, although I feel certain I would have opted against execution.

After decades on death row, Kerry Cook had to learn how to live again.

Beginning in the summer of 1977, when Linda Jo Edwards was found raped,
murdered and mutilated in her Tyler apartment, Smith County fought hard to kill Kerry Max Cook for the deed.

By LINN WASHINGTON, Jr.

Paris, France.

During the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris recently--a session featuring top diplomats and dignitaries--only one actual death row inmate addressed the delegates from over 120 nations: Pennsylvania death row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Abu-Jamal delivered brief remarks recorded from his Pa death row cell that echoed criticisms of the death penalty contained in presentations during the opening session by top officials from France, Germany, Italy and the Council of Europe.

Lawyers missed relevant evidence in 73 of 80 cases

By Stephen Henderson, Mcclatchy Newspapers | January 21, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The jurors heard all about the convenience store holdup, the gunshots, and the dead clerk. Their unanimous verdict came swiftly: Warren King was guilty of a senseless slaying that shocked rural Appling County, Ga.

A death sentence almost certainly would be next, unless King's lawyer could persuade the jury to spare his life. But G. Terry Jackson, King's state-appointed lawyer, didn't do much.