Eight former North Carolina Supreme Court justices are urging the leadership of the North Carolina House of Representatives to allow a vote on legislation that would impose a two-year moratorium on executions in the state while capital punishment is studied. Among the 8 former justices are Democrats and Republicans, some who support the death penalty and others who oppose it. “This legislation is about fundamental fairness, an issue that should not be controversial. The recent exonerations of Alan Gell and Darryl Hunt give clear evidence of the need for a study of our death penalty system. We should stop all executions until we can be sure that the death penalty is being used fairly in this state. We cannot risk the execution of an innocent person. We urge House leaders to permit a vote on this issue and allow the Democratic process to work,” said the Honorable James G. Exum, Jr., one of the letter’s co-signers. The North Carolina Senate passed the bill last spring, but house leaders have said the measure may not come up for a vote before their session ends this year. A statewide poll shows that 63% of North Carolinians support the temporary halt to executions so the system can be studied. (North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium Press Release, June 29, 2004) Read the press release.