Court halts executions, eyes review of protocols

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Maryland's highest court yesterday rejected condemned murderer Vernon Evans' appeal for a new trial but ruled that the state must revisit protocols for lethal injections before carrying out another execution.

The Maryland Court of Appeals directed the state to rewrite the protocols in accordance with state law or have the legislature grant an exemption for the protocols.

The ruling did not impugn the state's lethal-injection procedure, but faulted the way the state established the procedures.

Nevertheless, the decision set the stage for a debate about capital punishment and lethal injection in the upcoming General Assembly session.

The ruling prompted Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley to pledge his willingness to sign death warrants despite his personal opposition to capital punishment.

"I take an oath to uphold the law," said Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat serving his second term as Baltimore's mayor. "That doesn't mean those laws can't be made better and more effective."

The Maryland decision comes four days after executions were halted in California and Florida over concerns that lethal injections might constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

Evans is pursuing that claim in a federal lawsuit.

Mr. O'Malley said he supported an end to capital punishment in Maryland, saying it was an ineffective crime-fighting strategy and a waste of money.

"I would like to see us evolve to a point in time where we understand that the death penalty does not reduce violent crime and it is not a deterrent to violent crime," Mr. O'Malley told reporters at a press conference in Baltimore, where he announced that his transportation secretary will be John D. Porcari, who had the same post under former Gov. Parris N. Glendening.