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Va. assembly passes bill to use electric chair when execution drugs aren’t available Va. assembly passes bill to use electric chair when execution drugs aren’t available
(35 minutes later)
RICHMOND — Virginia could use the electric chair on death-row inmates when lethal-injection drugs are not available under a bill that cleared the legislature Friday and headed to the desk of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).RICHMOND — Virginia could use the electric chair on death-row inmates when lethal-injection drugs are not available under a bill that cleared the legislature Friday and headed to the desk of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).
McAuliffe has not revealed his position on the measure. McAuliffe told reporters Friday that he would have to examine the bill before taking a position on it.
Like many states, Virginia has struggled with how to carry out capital punishment at a time when lethal-injection drugs have become hard to obtain. The electric chair is already an option in the state, where condemned inmates are allowed to choose between it and lethal injection. The bill is intended to make the electric chair the default method of execution if the state is unable to obtain the drugs.Like many states, Virginia has struggled with how to carry out capital punishment at a time when lethal-injection drugs have become hard to obtain. The electric chair is already an option in the state, where condemned inmates are allowed to choose between it and lethal injection. The bill is intended to make the electric chair the default method of execution if the state is unable to obtain the drugs.
The House and Senate gave final passage to the bill after a conference committee hammered out a seemingly minor tweak to the language that an anti-death penalty Democrat said made the measure a “total mess.”
[ Va. Senate votes for using electric chair if execution drugs stay scarce ][ Va. Senate votes for using electric chair if execution drugs stay scarce ]
The House and Senate gave final passage to the bill after a conference committee hammered out a seemingly minor tweak to the language that an anti-death penalty Democrat said made the measure a “total mess.”
The version that the Senate passed on Monday would have required the director of the Department of Corrections to make “substantial efforts” to obtain lethal-injection drugs before using the electric chair. Del. Jackson H. Miller (R-Manassas), who sponsored the bill, objected to adding that language, and the House followed his recommendation to reject it.The version that the Senate passed on Monday would have required the director of the Department of Corrections to make “substantial efforts” to obtain lethal-injection drugs before using the electric chair. Del. Jackson H. Miller (R-Manassas), who sponsored the bill, objected to adding that language, and the House followed his recommendation to reject it.
In the end, both chambers agreed to require the director to make “reasonable efforts” to obtain the drugs.In the end, both chambers agreed to require the director to make “reasonable efforts” to obtain the drugs.
Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) said that regardless of whether the bill read “substantial” or “reasonable,” the language was so vague that it invited litigation. Earlier in the week, he had failed to amend the bill to require the corrections director to publicly disclose what efforts had been made to obtain lethal-injection drugs, including which pharmaceutical companies had been contacted.
[Terry McAuliffe put in awkward spot on death penalty][Terry McAuliffe put in awkward spot on death penalty]
Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) said that regardless of whether the bill read “substantial” or “reasonable,” the language was so vague that it invited litigation. Earlier in the week, he had failed to amend the bill to require the corrections director to publicly disclose what efforts had been made to obtain lethal-injection drugs, including which pharmaceutical companies had been contacted.
After Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Stafford) urged the body to vote for the amendment, Surovell challenged him to explain the difference between “substantial” and “reasonable.”After Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Stafford) urged the body to vote for the amendment, Surovell challenged him to explain the difference between “substantial” and “reasonable.”
“I’m not even going to attempt to do that,” Stuart said.“I’m not even going to attempt to do that,” Stuart said.
For anyone who wanted to know what steps the director had taken, the “vast majority of this would be subject to FOIA,” Stuart said, referring to the Freedom of Information Act.For anyone who wanted to know what steps the director had taken, the “vast majority of this would be subject to FOIA,” Stuart said, referring to the Freedom of Information Act.
McAuliffe’s position on the measure was unclear. Earlier in the week, McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said the governor would review the bill if it reaches his desk. Coy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
[Lacking lethal-injection drugs, Virginia might turn to the electric chair][Lacking lethal-injection drugs, Virginia might turn to the electric chair]
McAuliffe campaigned as a supporter of capital punishment when he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2009. Last year, McAuliffe backed a bill that would have allowed the state to order lethal-injection drugs from specialty pharmacies. That measure died amid controversy over provisions that would have shrouded the pharmacies in unprecedented secrecy to protect them from political pressure. A European export ban has stopped pharmaceutical firms from sending the drugs to the United States.McAuliffe campaigned as a supporter of capital punishment when he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2009. Last year, McAuliffe backed a bill that would have allowed the state to order lethal-injection drugs from specialty pharmacies. That measure died amid controversy over provisions that would have shrouded the pharmacies in unprecedented secrecy to protect them from political pressure. A European export ban has stopped pharmaceutical firms from sending the drugs to the United States.
Amid last year’s debate, Coy noted that McAuliffe is a Catholic but said he would not let his personal beliefs about capital punishment keep him from performing his duties as governor.Amid last year’s debate, Coy noted that McAuliffe is a Catholic but said he would not let his personal beliefs about capital punishment keep him from performing his duties as governor.
There are seven people on death row in Virginia, according to the state Department of Corrections. The only scheduled execution is for Ivan Teleguz on April 13. Teleguz was convicted of taking part in a murder-for-hire plot in Harrisonburg that left a woman dead.There are seven people on death row in Virginia, according to the state Department of Corrections. The only scheduled execution is for Ivan Teleguz on April 13. Teleguz was convicted of taking part in a murder-for-hire plot in Harrisonburg that left a woman dead.
In 2014, Tennessee became the first state to allow use of the electric chair when no lethal-injection drugs are available. No one has been executed since the law passed and last year Tennessee’s Supreme Court delayed the remaining four executions in the state pending appeals.In 2014, Tennessee became the first state to allow use of the electric chair when no lethal-injection drugs are available. No one has been executed since the law passed and last year Tennessee’s Supreme Court delayed the remaining four executions in the state pending appeals.