Neb)-Gov Says Execution Plans Will Go Forward [View all]

[frogmarch]

Governor Pete Ricketts says repeal of the death penalty by the legislature this past week won't stop his administration from proceeding with planning and carrying out the executions of the 10 men currently on death row.

Ricketts had announced earlier in the month that the state had been able to obtain supplies of the three drugs needed for lethal injection executions and said on Friday that he doesn't plan to cancel the shipments.

State Attorney General Doug Peterson said Thursday that he believes repeal of the death penalty doesn't affect those on death row because the state constitution gives the pardons board the sole authority to convert a death sentence into life in prison.

State Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha, the law's lead sponsor, says the law is constitutional because it doesn't change the sentences, it just eliminates the state's authority to carry out executions.

. The law doesn't go into effect for three months and supporters of capital punishment are already making plans for a petition drive to put the issue on next year's ballot.

http://chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=37564

Ricketts is obviously pissed off as all get out and will try to get the 10 on death row put down asap.