Groups opposing the death penalty praised Maryland Governor Parris Glendening's decision to impose the nation's second statewide moratorium on capital punishment

Christian Century, June 5, 2002

* Groups opposing the death penalty praised Maryland Governor Parris Glendening's decision to impose the nation's second statewide moratorium on capital punishment. Glendening, a two-term Democrat, on May 8 halted all executions until the completion of a University of Maryland study that will examine possible racial bias in the death penalty.

That study is expected to be completed this fall. Only one other governor, Republican George Ryan of Illinois, has suspended executions out of concern about the death penalty's fairness. Ryan ordered the moratorium in early 2000 after more executions were overturned than carried out. A blue-ribbon panel recently recommended a number of reforms to prevent innocent people from being executed, although the moratorium remains in effect.