This was an act by one governor, who will be replaced tomorrow. But it's a permanent act for those folks on death row.

I'm not entirely sure I can blame him. With the advent of DNA evidence a LOT of folks who would have been executed have been demonstrated to be innocent of the particular crimes of which they were convicted.

Confessions have been demonstrated to have been extorted, and, like the Inquisition, once someone has confessed they cannot effectively recant.

If I were a governor, and faced with the probability that there were innocent people in that bunch who would be put to death, I might have done the same thing.

Interestingly, I saw a conservative comment that prior to DNA evidence there were no examples of innocent folks executed.

I can see no reason why the previous hundred years should be any different than the last 10, where it's been possible to review convictions with additional evidence. Clearly a bunch of folks who hadn't done the crime for which they were convicted were put to death.

If I were responsible for clemency, I'd be a bit nervous about that. And I'm not saying these people were pillars of the community.

Gutsy call in a way for the guy, a no-brainer in another way.

Arf