New Mexico governor Bill Richardson

NEW MEXICO (USA): SENATE COMMITTEE OKS DEATH PENALTY REPEAL

March 9, 2009: legislation abolishing New Mexico's death penalty cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and is headed to the full Senate for a vote. It already has passed the House, so if it were approved by the Senate without change, it would go to the governor for his signature.
The bill replaces capital punishment with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
"It's been a long time coming," Michelle Giger, a founder of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, said after the judiciary panel's 6-5 vote.
"We don't want it. We don't need it. It doesn't work. So let's get rid of it," added Giger.
New Mexico has executed one person since 1960. There are two men on death row whose sentences would be unaffected by the repeal.
Former Bexar County District Attorney Sam Millsap told the judiciary panel he no longer supports the death penalty because the judicial system is too imperfect to ensure that the innocent are always protected. (Sources: Chron.com, 09/03/2009)