S171

TRENTON – Senator Ray Lesniak, sponsor of S-171/2471, the bill that would eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey and replace it with life in prison without parole, made the following statement today as Governor Jon Corzine signed the bill into law:

“In 1982, I voted to reinstate the death penalty in New Jersey. Today, I’d like to thank some folks who helped correct that mistake.

“First, I want to thank Senator Martin and his Republican colleagues, Senators Allen, Palaia and McCullough, for their support, along with Assemblymen Bateman, Blee and Rumpf. It’s not often we vote our conscience in the Legislature. We should do it more often.

TRENTON – Senator Ray Lesniak, sponsor of S-171/2471, the bill that would eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey and replace it with life in prison without parole, made the follow statement today on the floor of the Senate:

“We shouldn’t have the death penalty unless we’re going to use it. And we shouldn’t use it if there is a chance of executing an innocent person.

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, prime sponsor of S-171, the legislation that would replace the death penalty in New Jersey with life in prison without parole, made the follow statement today after the Senate approved the bill:

“New Jersey has long struggled with the question of whether we wanted, needed or could afford to have the death penalty in our state.

“In the past, both sides of the debate have relied on arguments based on emotion to make their case, trying to back up their points with anecdotal evidence as to the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the death penalty. More often than not, the two sides would just shout past each other.

TRENTON – Senator Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, made the following statement today as the Senate Judiciary Committee considered his bill, S-171, to ban the death penalty in New Jersey:

“Three years ago, I introduced legislation to abolish the death penalty to ensure that the system of justice administered by our State is effective, consistent, and just.