O'Malley Should End State Death Sentences

That's the title of an editorial in today's Frederick News-Post in Maryland.

After years of contentious debate, Maryland last year did away with its death penalty. The legislation, however, did not apply to the four individuals who were already awaiting execution on the state’s death row.

That exception to the new law has created a controversy that needn’t have occurred, but can be easily put to rest by Gov. Martin O’Malley — if he has the political will to do so.

To begin with, when Maryland finally decided it was against executing people, the new law should not have left four prisoners on death row. The General Assembly should have resolved the matter completely and made the law applicable to everyone. Failure to do that has created the current controversy.

Earlier coverage from Maryland begins at the link.