At a National Press Club luncheon this week, outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder said that he is opposed to the death penalty and thinks the practice should be halted. Holder, who clarified that he was speaking in a personal capacity, not an official one, said he believes that a moratorium on executions would be “appropriate” until the Supreme Court hears a case about the constitutionality of lethal injections. The upcoming case comes after several executions by lethal injections were botched by prison officials, leading to painful, prolonged deaths for the convicted murders. Holder said,
There’s always the possibility that mistakes will be made … It’s for that reason that I am opposed to the death penalty … think fundamental questions about the death penalty need to be asked. And among them, the Supreme Court’s determination as to whether or not lethal injection is consistent with our Constitution is one that ought to occur. From my perspective, I think a moratorium until the Supreme Court made that determination would be appropriate.
Holder recently announced his pending retirement from the position, and will be replaced by Loretta Lynch pending her confirmation. Like Holder, Lynch also opposes capital punishment …
