A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned a lower court’s finding that Tennessee’s lethal injection procedure is unconstitutional. The case concerns Edward J. Harbison, who was sentenced to death for the 1983 murder of an elderly woman. In 2007, as a result of Mr. Harbison’s appeals, the Federal District Court... » read this article

U.S. justices take break for the summer.Their inaction on appeal gives death-row inmate more time to live, hope. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 SAVANNAH —- The U.S. Supreme Court recessed on Monday for the summer without acting on the latest appeal by Georgia death-row inmate Troy Anthony Davis —- a legal... » read this article

Claire Phillips met with people who have experienced the reality of death row. Her portraits are presented without any obvious visual reference to the death row environment or the death penalty. They aim to present the humanity of the people involved – their very ordinariness.     The Human Face... » read this article

Michigan has outlawed second chances for some juveniles, garnering international shame for imposing the maximum adult penalty -- life without parole -- for children as young as 14. The time is right to end this unreasonable and inhuman law that, in effect, declares young people beyond redemption. Michigan's budget crisis... » read this article

Scientists agree, by an overwhelming majority, that the death penalty has no deterrent effect. They felt the same way over ten years ago, and nothing has changed since then. States without the death penalty continue to have significantly lower murder rates than those that retain capital punishment. And the few... » read this article

Kenneth B. Trotter had been practicing law for less than a year when an Alabama judge appointed him to assist two more-seasoned lawyers in defending a man facing the death penalty. After the man, Holly Wood, was convicted in 1994 of murdering his former girlfriend, Mr. Trotter led the effort... » read this article

Editor's Note: Important background information on this story was published by the BBC on May 29, 2009. The attack on the mosque in Zahedan has all the earmarks of an operation spawned by the CIA or Mossad. The BBC reported - "A provincial official in Iran has accused the United States of being... » read this article

Dear Axis of Logic Reader, It is said that the ultimate heroic act is one of saving the life of another human being. There have been many celebrated stories of someone rushing into a burning building or diving into the water to save the life of another. Each of us... » read this article

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A self-described "non-caring monster" who took responsibility for killing five relatives was executed Tuesday evening for the slayings of his two stepchildren. "I am sorry for what I've done and for all the pain and suffering my actions caused," Terry Lee Hankins said from the death chamber... » read this article

At roughly 6 p.m. tonight, Texas Gov. Rick Perry will make history when he presides over the 200th execution of his tenure. It's a chilling achievement, one that dwarfs that of his predecessor, George W. Bush, who famously signed off on 152 (with a little help from his friend, then-legal... » read this article

Editor's note: Please read carefully and join this important action against the death penalty in Texas and throughout the U.S. The sponsors of this action have worked hard to provide us with numerous ways to join the protest. Thank you - Axis editors Protest the 200th Execution Under Texas Governor... » read this article

     "Capital punishment: them without the capital get the punishment." Those were the last words of John Spenkelink, executed 30 years ago on May 25 in Starke for murdering traveling companion Joseph Szymankiewicz. Spenkelink was the first person executed in the state, the second nationwide after a 1976 U.S.... » read this article

Sunday, May 17, 2009                           It took outsiders and modern forensics to put former death row inmate Paul Gregory House onto the path of freedom. But it was insiders and old-fashioned legwork that set him free. In candid... » read this article

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former death row inmate in Tennessee has been cleared of murder, three years after the Supreme Court raised repeated questions about his conviction. State prosecutors on Tuesday asked a judge to drop all charges against Paul House, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to die... » read this article

Editor's comment: At Axis of Logic we take a clear and unapologetic stand for the abolition of the death penalty. The case of Troy Davis exemplifies our reason and position to abolish the death penalty. - Britta Slopianka, Columnist for the Abolition of the Death Penalty Axis of Logic Alternet... » read this article

Posted: 4/28/09 When you hear her story it sounds like a nightmare. At age 17, Sabrina Butler had a nine-month old son with a heart murmur who stopped breathing in his crib. After a frantic half hour the baby arrived in the emergency room but doctors were unable to revive... » read this article

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court granted a new hearing in federal court for a Tennessee death row inmate who was deprived of key evidence at his trial. The justices on Tuesday ordered a review of the death sentence given to Gary Bradford Cone, who was convicted of beating an elderly... » read this article

Editor's Note: Please read Gloria Rubac's letter carefully. We are asking you, the reader, to sign the petition she provides to save Randy Halprin from the Texas State Executioner. Randy has been condemned to death for a crime he did not commit. Time is running out for Randy. Gloria also describes a current bill... » read this article

(Please note the Axis of Logic editorial on this CNN report) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has let stand the conviction of former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was sent to death row for gunning down a Philadelphia police officer 28 years ago. He contends blacks were unfairly excluded... » read this article

"The Supreme Court has let stand the conviction of former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal". So writes Bill Mear in his CNN report on the latest decision on Mumia's conviction, 28 years ago. We might add also that CNN has now enjoined the decision by "John Roberts and the Supremes" by reinforcing Mumia's conviction... » read this article