Delaware Representatives will finally have a chance to vote on SB 40 this Thursday, January 28th at Legislative Hall. The session starts at 2:00pm, but please arrive early to get a seat. Help us pack the House hall in Dover as legislators debate the bill.
The Press Conference is still scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th at 12:00pm. This event will help to build momentum for the debate and vote on Thursday.
This week, please contact your Representatives and urge them to vote YES on SB 40.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Press Conference!
Please Join the coalition supporting the Delaware Repeal Project for a press conference to address the racial inequities and other flaws in Delaware’s criminal justice system, and call for repeal of the death penalty. If you are available, please plan to stay and lobby your elected representative. Materials will be provided. Wednesday January 27, 2016 at 12:00pm. House Chamber in Legislative Hall. For more information please contact monac@ejusa.org. Please spread the word to your friends and groups. The more people who attend, the more our legislators will see that the death penalty is not the right policy for Delaware.
Sunday January 24, 2016 at 3pm Delaware Repeal will host a twitter chat about helping pass Senate Bill 40 to repeal Delaware’s death penalty. Follow the hashtag #RaceJusticeDE.
Here we go, folks! House Rep. Larry Mitchell signed Senate Bill 40 out of the House Judiciary Committee today. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf said he will place SB 40 on the agenda for the full House to debate on Thursday, January 28th. Read the full press release below.
Delaware House of Representatives
House Majority Caucus
For Immediate Release: January 21, 2016
Contact: Drew Volturo Work: (302) 744-4001
Capital Punishment Repeal Bill Released From Committee
SB 40 will be heard on House floor on January 28
DOVER – House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Larry Mitchell announced today that he has taken action to release legislation repealing capital punishment in Delaware from committee. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf has committed to placing Senate Bill 40 on the House agenda for Thursday, January 28.
Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Sen. Karen Peterson and Rep. Sean Lynn, was heard in the House Judiciary Committee last spring, but failed to secure enough votes to be released to the full House. Rep. Mitchell, who voted against releasing the bill last year, said today that he signed SB 40 out of committee with an “unfavorable” endorsement, which will allow the bill to move forward.
“As a retired New Castle County Police officer, I am personally opposed to repealing capital punishment. However, it is clear to me that this issue deserves to be presented to all the members of the House for debate and an up-or-down vote,” said Rep. Mitchell, D-Elsmere. “Some of my fellow colleagues in the Democratic Caucus want to see this bill on the House floor, and I agree with them.”
SB 40 would effectively repeal Delaware’s statute allowing for capital punishment in first-degree murder cases, with an exemption for inmates currently on death row.
“I have stated from the beginning that although I oppose repealing the death penalty, I would respect the legislative process and place the bill on a House agenda if and when it was released from committee,” said Rep. Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, a retired Delaware State Police captain. “I thank Rep. Mitchell for his leadership.”
Rep. Lynn said he appreciated Rep. Mitchell signing the bill out of committee despite his opposition to the proposal.
“I would like to thank Rep. Mitchell for recognizing the importance of bringing this bill forward and Speaker Schwartzkopf for keeping his commitment to putting SB 40 on the floor for a debate and up-or-down vote,” said Rep. Lynn, D-Dover. “I feel strongly that capital punishment has no place in our criminal justice system today. I hope that my colleagues will have a healthy and civil debate on this important issue.”
Rep. Schwartzkopf said he will place SB 40 on an agenda for a day certain on Thursday, January 28.
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The Jan. 20 press conference at legislative hall was postponed to Jan. 27. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out or give me a call.
Thank you
Min. Rachel B. Livingston, BSME, MDiv
Field Organizer
The Delaware Repeal Project 505 Washington st., Wilmington, DE 19801
Please Join the coalition supporting the Delaware Repeal Project for a press conference to address the racial inequities in Delaware’s criminal justice system and call for repeal of the death penalty. If you are available, please plan to stay and lobby your elected representative. Materials will be provided. Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 12:00pm. Room 112 in the Tatnall Building, 150 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd S, Dover DE 19901. For more information please contact monac@ejusa.org.
Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty 