A substitute resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to ask Governor Don Sundquist to issue a moratorium on capital punishment.

WHEREAS, proposing a moratorium on executions will eliminate the risk where innocent persons may be executed; and

WHEREAS, studies show that the vast majority of persons facing capital punishment cannot afford their own attorney; and

WHEREAS, the American Bar Association has called for a moratorium on executions, having concluded that the death penalty is administered in a haphazard way and lacks consistency; and

WHEREAS, some 62 city and county legislative bodies across the United States have called a moratorium on executions; and

WHEREAS, a study at Columbia University has concluded that approximately 76% of reversals in death penalty cases are as a result of incompetent defense lawyers, police or prosecution misconduct, and misinformed and biased judges or juries, which study was based upon research of death penalty appeal cases from 1973 to 1995 involving more than 5,400 cases; and

WHEREAS, a moratorium on executions can allow sufficient time to evaluate the appropriateness of the death penalty as a punishment for crime, its detrimental effect, and assuring that due process of law is being provided to all persons.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

SECTION 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to request Governor Don Sundquist to issue a moratorium on capital punishment.

SECTION 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

SECTION 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored By: Brenda Gilmore