Last January, NJ lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to suspend executions while a task force studies the ethical issues and costs associated with imposing capital punishment. When then-Gov. Codey signed the measure, NJ became the second state behind Illinois to suspend executions, but the first to do so through legislation.  The moritorium is set to expire at the end of this year at which point the NJ state legislators will vote to outlaw the death penalty all together in this state.

If ever there were a cautionary tale for outlawing the death penalty, it's that of Kirk Bloodsworth.  Mr.  Bloodsworth is the first person sentenced to death who was exonerated through DNA evidence and he was in South Jersey addressing the Coalition for Peace and Justice http://hometown.aol.com/norkarnatam/cpj. html meeting last night in Linwood.  When I promised Mr. Bloodsworth that NJ legislators read this site, he agreed to a podcast interview.  (wink)

The death penalty is morally disgusting.  It's also horrible public policy.  Listen to Kirk Bloodsworth's story and you'll know why. Podcast address here:
http://media24a.libsyn.com/podcasts/blue jersey/BlueJerseyPodcast4.mp3
(cross posted on Bluejersey.net and on my blog "Lassiter Space")