Death Penalty Quarterly | April 2026
As an Easter people, we proclaim that life has the final word. What does it really mean to be people of the Resurrection? It means choosing to see life where others see only death. It means believing, even now, that something new is possible.
We can turn to the words of Pope Leo. While he is referring to war, these words he shared echo deeply in our work to end the death penalty:
“War is never a solution; it only creates new victims and wounds that are passed down through generations. Even the victors are truly defeated when humanity is lost.”
The same can be said of the death penalty. It creates new victims. It deepens wounds that ripple through families and communities for generations. And in the end, we all lose something of our humanity.
Our world is marked by war, threat, and death. And still, there are glimmers, small signs of hope, of life breaking through, of Resurrection at work in the world. We are both reminded and challenged to keep our eyes fixed on this hope — to not lose sight of that promise that mercy and new life are possible.
By the Numbers
23 non-death penalty states
27 death penalty states, 4 of which have paused executions by executive action
7 executions in 2026 across 3 states
1661 individuals executed and 202 individuals exonerated since the 1970s
LEGAL MATTERS
Effective Advocacy Halts Regressive Legislation
In Indiana, advocacy efforts helped narrowly defeat a bill to add the firing squad as an execution method. The regressive bill, HB 1119 fell just short of passing in the House. The New Hampshire legislature rejected a bill to reinstate the death penalty following a unanimous recommendation against it by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
Certain States Take Steps Backwards
- Alabama | In February 2026, Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama signed the Child Predatory Death Penalty Act into law. The law authorizes the death sentences in cases of aggravated rape of a child. The Supreme Court has held in Coker v. Georgia and Kennedy v. Louisiana that the use of the death penalty is disproportionate to the crime of rape. Alabama now joins states Tennessee and Florida in laws that are directly out of line with this precedent.
- Idaho | A new law in Idaho designates the firing squad as the state’s primary execution method. Effective July 1, Idaho will become the only state with this distinction. The bill also expands the state’s level of secrecy surrounding executions by hiding the identities of members of the firing squad and “any person or entity that provides technical assistance during the execution process”.
Supreme Court Case: Mississippi
On March 31, the Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in Pitchford v. Cain, weighing whether or not the Mississippi Supreme Court unreasonably determined that Terry Pitchford “waived his right to rebut the prosecutors asserted race-neutral reasons for exercising peremptory strikes against four Black jurors” under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). The prosecutor, Doug Evans, is the same who unconstitutionally struck dozens of Black jurors across the six capital trials of Curtis Flowers, who was later exonerated. The Supreme Court is likely to issue a decision in the coming months.
CMN intern, Lydia Marti, listened to the Court’s argument and shared her reflections here.
GOVERNORS IN THEIR FINAL YEAR:
CLEMENCY OPPORTUNITIES
California
Advocates continue to call on Governor Newsom to grant clemency for the more than 500 individuals on California’s death row in these final months of his term. Through education and advocacy, momentum is building. CMN’s Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy and Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San Jose both published op-eds urging Gov. Newsom to use his power to save lives.
CMN staff traveled to California this spring for education and prayer events at Loyola Marymount University, California Baptist University, the Diocese of Orange, and Rosary High School, all centered on advocating for the California universal clemency campaign.
Ohio
While there are two legislative bills that would abolish the death penalty in the state of Ohio, it is also true that Governor DeWine, who is Catholic, is in his last year of office. This moment presents a meaningful opportunity for leadership. Under his leadership, there have been no executions in Ohio. If Gov. DeWine takes action to grant clemency, he can save the lives of the 30 individuals who would be eligible for execution under the next administration, as well as the hundreds of other people who remain on Ohio’s death row.
The governor has the power to grant clemency in death penalty cases as long as certain conditions are first met. By acting quickly, Gov. DeWine can ensure these conditions are met and make it possible to grant broad commutations before leaving office — a lifesaving action that would shape a lasting legacy.
CMN partnered with the Diocese of Cleveland for education and advocacy events at John Carroll University and Ursuline College. Bishop Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus, shared his experiences of Ohio’s death row in our Easter reflection.
DID YOU KNOW?
When someone is granted clemency, their sentence is either reduced or they are granted a total pardon. The procedures for granting clemency vary by state. Generally, an application for clemency will first go to a board of pardons and paroles. The board’s decision will then be referred to a governor.
Clemency is quite rare. Many states have never issued clemency since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Notably, in 2024 President Joe Biden granted clemency to 37 individuals on the federal death row and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper granted 15 individuals clemency — both before leaving office.
THE CATHOLIC VOICE GLOBALLY
- New Israeli Death Penalty Law: On March 30, 2026, the Israeli Knesset passed a law introducing the death penalty by hanging for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks on Israelis. The global Church has spoken out in response. Franciscan Custos Fr. Francesco Ielpo emphasized the moral concern stating, “Killing is wrong. And cutting (short a) life is never good for any reason.”
- Pope Leo Calls for Peace: In his Urbi et Orbi message shared on Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV said: “The peace that Jesus gives us is not a peace that merely silences the weapons, but one that touches and transforms the heart of each of us! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts!”
- His exhortation included an invitation to the whole Church to join in a vigil for peace in the Octave of Easter. CMN joined in this prayer, remembering the Holy Father’s call to seek a persevering witness that shines light, even in the darkness of violence. This ongoing work of peace is the work of restoration.
NOTABLE CASES
- Charles “Sonny” Burton (AL): The Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey granted clemency to Charles “Sonny” Burton in March 2026 ahead of his scheduled execution. Gov. Ivey’s decision rested in the unjust sentencing disparities between Sonny, who was an accomplice to murder, and his co-defendant who actually pulled the trigger, yet received life in prison instead of a death sentence.
- Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso from the Diocese of Mobile reacted to the Governor’s decision saying, ”In choosing mercy, Gov. Ivey has affirmed the dignity of human life and helped foster a greater culture of life in our society.”
- James Duckett (FL): Shortly before his execution scheduled in March, the Florida Supreme Court granted a temporary stay of execution to James Duckett due to outstanding DNA testing with significant bearing on his case. Because the testing conducted shortly before his scheduled execution came back inconclusive, the courts intervened to allow his legal team more time to explore the impact of the evidence. James is sentenced to death for the 1987 murder of 11-year old Teresa McAbee. He has always maintained his innocence and no physical evidence has definitively proven otherwise.
IN MEMORIAM
We pray for those who have been executed these past three months: Charles Victor Thompson (TX), Ronald Palmer Heath (FL), Kendrick Simpson (OK), Melvin Trotter (FL), Billy Leon Kearse (FL), Cedric Ricks (TX), and Michael King (FL).
We also pray in a special way for the victims who lost their lives to acts of violence: Dennise Hayslip, Darren Cain, Glen Palmer, Anthony Jones, Virgie Langford, Michael Sheridan, Danny Parish, Roxann Sanchez and Anthony Figueroa, and Denise Amber Lee.
