TADP has followed Warren Hill’s case for years as he fought to demonstrate to the state of Georgia that he was, in fact, intellectually disabled. Georgia requires that defendants prove their intellectual disability, “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the highest legal burden of proof. In Mr. Hill’s case, all seven medical experts who examined him, including three appointed by the state, determined that he was intellectually disabled. His attorneys claimed that their client had “the emotional and cognitive ability of a young boy.” The American Bar Associate, the ACLU, the Georgia chapter of the NAACP, the Vatican, the European Union, mental health organizations, and even the family of Mr. Hill’s victim, Joseph Handspike, along with some of the jurors from his trial, all opposed his execution. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia in 2006 those with intellectual disability could not be executed, but only two members of the court, Justices Stephens and Sotomayor, voted for a stay for Warren Hill.  At 7:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, Warren Hill was declared dead, executed by the state of Georgia.

Many of you signed petitions and sent letters to the parole board in Georgia, asking them to stop this egregious constitutional violation, and we are grateful. Mr. Hill’s execution tragically demonstrates once again the failure of our nation’s death penalty system. How many more Warren Hill’s will be executed before we recognize that our death penalty system must be dismantled?  Mr. Hill’s attorney Brain Kammer stated, “the memory of Mr. Hill’s illegal execution will live on as a moral stain on the people of this State and on the courts that allowed this to happen.”

When will we stop allowing this to happen in Georgia, in Tennessee, and across this nation?

TADP’s Student Conference on the Death Penalty is scheduled for February 7, 2015, at Belmont University. Our Justice Day on the Hill is planned for March 4, 2015. Both of these events provide participants the opportunity to learn more about just how broken this system is and how all of us can get involved to end it. We will stop allowing this to happen when we all get informed and empowered to act. TADP wants to help us do that here in Tennessee. Please join us.

Photo from Reuters/Georgia Department of Correction

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A new year brings new opportunities to get involved with TADP’s work to repeal Tennessee’s death penalty. Currently, TADP is planning what we hope will be our largest student conference to date on February 7, 2015, at Belmont University in Nashville. Though this conference is geared to students, the wider community is invited to attend.

This conference provides an annual opportunity for students, educators, community leaders, legal professionals, and those affected by the death penalty to gather to learn more about Tennessee’s failed policy. Our keynote speaker is Stephen Owens,  the son of Gaile Owens—a woman who spent decades on Tennessee’s death row before her sentenced was commuted to life.  Owens will share his journey toward forgiveness and reconciliation with his mother following her conviction of murdering his father as chronicled in his book, Set Free. In addition to Owens’ amazing story, the conference includes a showing of the short film, “To Honor Life,” with a panel discussion to follow. To conclude the conference, a panel of attorneys will speak about the challenges involved with defending capital cases and how they navigate those challenges.

Registration for the student conference is free and can be found here.

Just a few short weeks following the student conference, TADP will hold its annual Justice Day on the Hill on March 4, 2015. Justice Day provides the opportunity for Tennesseans who are concerned about the death penalty system to come to Nashville for face-to-face meetings with their legislators. We gather at the Capitol for a brief training and then meet with lawmakers, educating them on the problems with the death penalty and asking them to consider repeal. This is an important year to connect with your legislator as Tennessee faces scheduled executions in 2015. As the event approaches, more information will be provided on our website, Facebook page, and Twitter. Stay tuned!

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The flaws in America’s death penalty system rose to the forefront of the nation’s consciousness in 2014. Here is TADP’s year in review:

The United States recorded the fewest number of executions (35) in the past twenty years. Twenty-eight of those 35 occurred in just three states – Texas, Missouri, and Florida. In fact, according to the Death Penalty Information Center Year End Report, there were only 72 death sentences this year, the fewest in forty years.

Botched executions once again revealed the horror of the death penalty, as three inmates – Dennis McGuire (1/16 in Ohio); Clayton Lockett (4/29 in Oklahoma); Joseph Wood (7/23 in Arizona) – experienced torturous deaths because of problems with lethal injection protocols.

A number of states moved to halt executions: Washington Governor Jay Inslee has stated that executions will not occur while he is governor. U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost issued a moratorium in Ohio into 2015. New Hampshire passed legislation to repeal the death penalty by an overwhelming margin in the House (vote of 225-104) but fell one vote short in the Senate. Bi-partisan legislation was brought forward in Kentucky, laying the groundwork for future bills. Lastly, strong repeal efforts are growing in Delaware, Kansas, and Nebraska, to name but a few states.

This year witnessed seven new exonerees (as of December 19) in Louisiana, Florida, two in North Carolina, and three in Ohio, including the nation’s 150^th exoneree, Kwame Ajamu. These seven are the most exonerees in the last five years. Another possible exoneree in Arizona, Debra Jean Milke, had her murder charges dismissed. Perhaps most heart-breaking was the exoneration of 14-year old George Stinney, Jr., who was the youngest person executed in the nation. Stinney was cleared seventy years after his wrongful conviction and death. These examples give credence to the University of Michigan Law School study (in April) that projected that 1 in 25 death row inmates are actually innocent.

In what proved to be one of the most dramatic moments of the year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Scott Panetti a stay on December 3 after a massive public outcry. Panetti drew the support of many notable conservative politicians and evangelicals due to his severe mental illness. Panetti’s case led to figures like Judge Tom Price of Dallas, a Republican judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, to publicly oppose the death penalty. Judge Price was just one of many new voices that emerged this year in opposition to the death penalty, including corrections officials, law enforcement, judges, conservatives politicians, and evangelical leaders.

In Tennessee, the ongoing legal challenges to the state’s lethal injection protocols, as well as the reinstatement of the electric chair, are sure to dominate the headlines. Execution dates for three inmates have been vacated while the litigation continues. Still seven inmates have execution dates beginning in March 2015.

One case to follow in 2015 will be Michael Rimmer, who will receive a new trial in the upcoming year.  His trial was marred by ineffective assistance from his counsel as well prosecutorial misconduct by Thomas Henderson, who was censured earlier this year. A summary of Rimmer’s case can be read in this USA Today article.

TADP also released the short film, To Honor Life, created and produced by David and Patricia Earnhardt of earnhardt films llc. This short film continues to be viewed by audiences across the state, raising awareness about the growing number of voices speaking out for repeal and educating the public on the problems with the current system. TADP is deeply grateful to the Earnhardts for their generous work on this project.

Lastly, TADP remembers the lifelong contributions of John Seigenthaler and George Barrett for their efforts to end the death penalty in Tennessee. We remain grateful for our many contributors and supporters who make this work possible. We wish you all happy holidays and look forward to the new year where we will continue to honor life by fighting to abolish the death penalty in Tennessee.

Photosource: http://vimeo.com/112572882

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

The average American could be forgiven for not knowing the name Cesare Beccaria, or his impact on this nation’s laws. John Bessler’s new book The Birth of American Law (Carolina Academic Press, 2014), however, seeks to change that by highlighting Beccaria’s influence upon America’s founders. Bessler’s recent Op-Ed in The National Law Journal (a free read by logging in) details Beccaria’s specific influence upon Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and others through his little-known work, On Crime and Punishments. The Italian philosopher deeply opposed the death penalty, and his work, once published into English in 1767, gained a foothold among the leaders of the burgeoning nation.

Nearly 250 years after the publishing of Beccaria’s English edition, criminal justice reform, of which the death penalty is a key part, reemerges as a major issue within American politics. None other than former President Bill Clinton recently claimed that candidates in the 2016 Presidential election would have to address these issues. In recent years, the Constitution has been a wedge in modern politics, yet Bessler’s work is a timely addition to the ongoing debate on the Founders’ intentions for the nation. Regardless, this book debunks yet another myth about the death penalty in America.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

The last few days have been a bit of whirlwind for Bryan Stevenson of Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a whirlwind for which activists in the death penalty and mass incarceration movements will surely reap the benefits. Stevenson’s book Just Mercy was released on Tuesday, October 21 to good reviews such as this one in the New York Times. This coming just a few days after the Times covered Stevenson’s EJI work, referencing Desmond Tutu’s appraisal of Stevenson as “America’s young Nelson Mandela.” But perhaps Stevenson’s appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brought the most attention to the critical issues within the movement right now, given the show’s millions of nightly viewers.

Bryan Stevenson’s work is emblematic of the daily fight those within the death penalty abolition movement pursue, as well as those who take up other causes. As Stevenson uses his platform to draw more attention to these issues, we are reminded to do the same, particularly during election season. Who will speak up for the poor and disenfranchised, the imprisoned and those to be executed? We urge you to get involved, particularly as ten men are scheduled to die in Tennessee.

Photo source: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/bryan_stevenson_huntsville_ims.html

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On Sunday, the Tennessean endorsed Governor Bill Haslam for a second term, citing his leadership on issues ranging from higher education, Tennessee’s economy, and a tough response to domestic violence. Additionally, Haslam was lauded for displaying leadership to temper the more extreme factions of his party. All of this led the editorial staff to conclude that the governor deserved a second term.

However, the paper thought there was room for improvement as well, specifically naming capital punishment as one area that required more leadership from Haslam. They challenged Haslam’s long-stated stance that the “will of the people” is sufficient reason to back off of personal convictions. “As governor, we believe he should be the voice of reason,” the Tennessean stated, “balancing compassion with law and order.” The paper’s endorsement comes on the same day that death row inmate Olen Hutchison died of natural causes while awaiting a May 2015 execution date. Although Hutchison was not even present during the murder for which he faced execution, he was circumstantially implicated by co-defendants who obtained reduced sentences for their testimony. Former Chief Justice Reid of the Tennessee Supreme Court decried the death penalty for Hutchison and the District Attorney General who prosecuted the case concedes there is room for honest doubt as to whether death was ever the appropriate punishment.

The Tennessean is right that a second term gives the Governor another opportunity to conduct a serious review of the state’s failing death penalty.  As more Tennesseans understand just how flawed this system is, the “will of the people” is shifting. If the death penalty is, in fact, a system that metes out arbitrary sentences and subsequent punishments costing taxpayers millions without making us safer, then Governor Haslam must exercise his authority, reason, and compassion to speak honestly and lead the people of Tennessee to understand just how flawed the policy is. This is what a leader does.

Photo source: http://www.tn.gov/governor/about.shtml

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile malfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Last night I visited First United Methodist Church of Murfreesboro to serve as the guest speaker for the last class of an eight- week series on the death penalty.  And, as in most discussions about the death penalty, participants invariably tried to put themselves in the shoes of those who have lost loved ones to murder. They wondered how they would feel, react, respond to such a horrific event.  Most really couldn’t fathom such a reality, never mind imagine what they might need in terms of emotional, spiritual, financial, and community support. None of us ever wants to be in a position to know how we might respond, what we might need. It is just too devastating to think about.

Still, for far too many people, the issue is not theoretical but all too real. They are living in the wake of violent crime with all its ripple effects. A report just released from the Department of Justice determined that nearly 70% of people suffer severe social or emotional problems after being the victim of a violent crime, but only about 12% of those individuals receive help from victim services. Just over half of victims who suffer from such problems report the crime to the police.

This is unacceptable.  Though I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers in how to reach all these hurting people, I am convinced that the pursuit of the death penalty only shifts attention and resources away from the needs of the surviving families and instead focuses our energy and resources on the perpetrator, often for decades in pursuit of the death penalty before the sentence is carried out, if ever. What would it be like if instead, we relied on alternatives sentences that provided legal finality to surviving families much quicker while focusing our resources and attention on how to best meet their needs long-term and  to get help for all those impacted by violent crime.

If this was our course of action, we would actually serve to heal and restore lives and communities, not only helping those most impacted by the violence but also helping to reduce possible future violence by the walking wounded whose needs for healing were never met. Some of these very wounded individuals will end up in our jails and prisons only after more damage has been done.

The state of Maryland recently took part of the savings from repeal of the death penalty and allocated it to assist surviving family members of murder. This is a positive first step in identifying the needs of victims’ families and getting them the help that they need. Though Tennessee has wonderful advocates working on behalf of crime victims everyday, imagine how much more these advocates could do with greater resources and support. With more budget cuts looming in out state, Tennesseans must decide what is most important to us, what we most value, and what is best for our communities. This report gives us all something to think about.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On September 25th, the Tennessee State Supreme Court delayed the scheduled execution of Billy Ray Irick, originally slated for October 7, while litigation is pending.  This means that Irick will not be executed on October 7 and that his execution will be rescheduled. TADP is grateful for this temporary reprieve and has postponed the vigil scheduled for that day in both Nashville and Memphis.

As we await and see how the courts will rule, we continue to encourage all TADP supporters to sign and share the open letter to Governor Haslam in order to gather as many signatures as possible before a new date is set.

TADP will keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Photograph from  the Tennessean.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile malfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile malfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.