New Jersey’s Death Penalty

Acting Gov. Richard Codey endorsed an 18 month to two year moratorium on executions until a proposed study commission determines whether the state's death penalty system is just, fair and worth its cost.

Codey, who is also Senate president, called for the moratorium yesterday as he stalled a Senate vote on a bill that would have created a 13-member death penalty study commission. The governor does not think it makes sense to do a study without a moratorium.

New Jersey has not executed anyone in 41 years, and capital punishment is already on hold as the Department of Corrections devises new lethal injection rules.