phadp.org - Execution Alert, Robert B. Melson, February 18th, 2010

Please contact Governor Bob Riley and ask him to stay the execution of Robert B. Melson set for February 18, 2010, and to institute a moratorium during which Alabama's capital punishment system could be thoroughly studied and proposals implemented.

THE HONORABLE GOVERNOR BOB RILEY

STATE CAPITOL N 104
600 Dexter Ave
MONTGOMERY, AL 36130 2751
PHONE 1-334-242-7100
FAX: 1-334-353-0004
Email: http://governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx

Suggested Talking Points for the upcoming execution

1. Alabama ought to delay all executions to allow for a thorough study of its capital punishment process and consider the serious objections raised as to how it administers the death penalty.

2. Alabama executed six people in 2009 and was second in the nation for number of executions

3. According to Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, capital punishment is growing more infrequent nationally, but in 2008 Alabama sent more people to death row than any other state!

4. Alabama is notorious for its unique law that allows a judge to override without limitations the recommendations of a jury for life in a capital case and order death instead of life without parole.

5. Alabama is also notorious for failing to guarantee legal representation for inmates appealing their capital convictions. The effectiveness of attorneys assigned to indigent suspects is questionable.

6. Income and race are factors and a number of caveats in recent post conviction DNA legislation limits accessibility to DNA testing.