NCJW Applauds Supreme Court's Stay of Execution

November 1, 2007, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today applauded the Supreme Court's decision to stay the execution of a Mississippi inmate pending a determination by the court as to whether lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. NCJW renewed its call for a moratorium on the death penalty. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"The Supreme Court has sent a powerful signal to states and lower courts that prisoners sentenced to die by lethal injection should not be put to death pending the court's review of that method of execution. NCJW supports a moratorium on the use of the death penalty to eliminate the risk that innocent people might be executed. Lethal injection is only one of many problems with the administration of the death penalty in the United States.

"In its most recent report, the American Bar Association has identified twelve areas of concern about the fairness of the way the death penalty is carried out. These concerns are not new. DNA testing has exonerated more than 200 inmates post-conviction, including 15 once sentenced to death. Inadequate counsel at trial is far too common, and even when counsel meets a minimum legal standard, it is often far less than someone facing the death penalty ought to have. Racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in administration persist.

"NCJW calls for a national moratorium on the use of the death penalty. By supporting the national movement for a moratorium, NCJW joins in seeking a complete re-examination of the issues surrounding this ultimate punishment. We urgently hope the Supreme Court's stay will underscore the need for this effort."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org