Attorney General Alan Wilson supports rule that would restore swift justice on death row

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a 16-state letter to the U.S. Department of Justice supporting a rule that would restore swift justice in the death row process by mitigating the long delays that can arise in federal habeas appeals.

The letter argues that current federal habeas review impedes states from timely enforcement of the death penalty. The Justice Department reports that the average time on death row is 21 years, with the number even larger for states that have had difficulty securing lethal-injection drugs.

“Congress has enacted laws to promote federalism and curb delays for states to impose their laws regarding capital punishment,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Taxpayers shouldn't be stuck footing the bill for decades due to government red tape, and victims of the most heinous crimes deserve justice in a timely manner.”

In capital cases, extreme delays have become typical, despite federal law requiring district courts to expedite their considerations of these cases.

Attorney General Alan Wilson joined the following states in this letter: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas.

You can read the letter here.