One state at a time

The New Jersey state legislature has passed a law calling for a moratorium on the death penalty pending a full inquiry into whether it is "consistent with evolving standards of decency". The bill was passed by a wide margin and with bipartisan support; the outgoing state governor has already announced he will sign it.

While this is only a temporary moratorium, given that New Jersey has not carried out any executions since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976, as well as the expressed views of legislators on its costs and the number of innocent people executed in other states, it seems likely that the ban will become permanant.

Now, if only some other states will do the same...