Fla. Urged To
Retire Electric Chair
10:42 PM ET 12/01/99
By JACKIE HALLIFAX, AP
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida
Corrections Commission is recommending that the state phase
out the electric chair in favor of lethal injection.
The second report was released Wednesday,
five months after blood flowed from beneath a 350-pound
inmate's face mask as he was executed.
The Corrections Commission, an advisory
board appointed by the governor, again called for a switch to
lethal injection. It also added as a basis for its
recommendation that time is ``long overdue'' to do away with
death row appeals based on the method of execution.
``As long as Florida clings to an antiquated
method of execution, electrocution, we will continue to see
appeals that delay enforcement of the death penalty,'' Ray
Sansom, commission chairman, wrote to Gov. Jeb Bush and state
lawmakers.
Bush has said he will consider a special
session in January to vote on allowing lethal injection if
lawmakers also pass legislation to shorten death row inmates'
appeals. Bush spokesman Dick Kane said Wednesday the governor
hadn't reviewed the commission's report. ``He's less concerned
with the method used to carry out the death penalty the he is
in finding ways to shorten the time it takes to carry out the
sentence,'' Kane said.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled in
February to review the state Supreme Court's decision to
uphold the use of the electric chair. The challenge alleges
the electric chair is cruel and unusual punishment.
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