For the fifth time in six years, Louisiana lawmakers have blocked attempts to abolish the state’s death penalty.
Despite a new push by Democratic Gov. John Bel and testimony of proponents from all walks of life - exonerated death row inmates, religious leaders, a judge, family members of murder victims and other members of the public - a GOP-controlled legislative committee voted 11-4 Wednesday against a bill to repeal the state’s longstanding death penalty.
Death penalty opponents argue that it should be eliminated due to the cost of executions, racial disparities and religious beliefs. Critics also note that Louisiana has had frequent exonerations. Between 2010 and 2020, 22 inmates sentenced to death had those sentences reduced or were exonerated, according to the corrections department.
Ross Foote, a retired district judge, said he fears that there may have been cases in which an innocent person has wrongfully been sentenced to death and executed.
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