We discussed the article by Crystal Hill entitled “Biden vowed to end the death penalty. Can he keep his promise?” We certainly hope that he will and here are the things that he can do: “The president can direct U.S. attorneys across the country not to pursue capital charges,” Lauren-Brooke Eisen, director of the justice program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, told Yahoo News. “The president can urge Congress to provide federal incentives for state and local prosecutors to avoid seeking capital punishment.” The president can also commute the sentences of all 46 federal death row inmates to mandatory life without parole, she said.” We also discussed why this has not happened so far and of course as with everything else going on in our very divided country the answer is politics.

Politics are also the reason that although on the website of the U.S. Supreme Court one is assured that the Justices never stop working there is a slight feeling of relief when one knows that they are not in session. We do our best to stay out of politics which is why we lift up Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty but the current political divisive climate makes it difficult.

As most of our supporters know we do not discuss prison living conditions however the ongoing difficulties with our phone connections since our move make it difficult for us to reach our attorneys. This cannot be remedied soon enough. We must be able to reach our attorneys!

In closing and as always, we continue to thank all our generous donors who either gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button or who gave directly. Thank you also to all who took the time to read our notes, commented, liked and shared them on Facebook. You encourage us and make all the difference. Stay safe!

Esther