Governor John Bel Edwards gives COVID briefing January 13, 2022.
Governor John Bel Edwards has publicly come out against the death penalty – after remaining neutral on the controversial issue during his tenure. Edwards told KNOE TV in Monroe he is concerned about executing an innocent person.
“We know there have been far more exonerations off of our death row over the last twenty years then there have been actual executions.”
A shortage of lethal injection drugs has paused executions in the state for the past 13 years. Edwards support of the death penalty is based on morality and believes lawmakers should remain consistent in their views.
“It seems to me to be inconsistent to say on the one hand we’re going to be the most “pro-life” state in the nation or that we can be yet we’re going to maintain our traditional approach to the death penalty.”
There is a bill filed by Marrero Representative Kyle Green that would end the death penalty in Louisiana. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross doesn’t expect the governor’s support of the legislation will lead to legislative passage.
“Whether that bill will ultimately be supported is quite unclear given the strong Republican majority in both chambers.”
The state has carried out only one execution since 2010. Cross says with a new governor coming in next year Conservative lawmakers would rather pass this issue to the next governor.
“They’re thinking about their re-election. They’re also thinking about who’s going to be the next governor and how the winds going to be blowing when we have a new governor.”
This is Governor Edwards’ final year in office. The 2023 legislative session begins April 10th.
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