Nebraska Death Penalty

On March 25, 2008, the Nebraska Legislature rejected LB1063, a bill that would have eliminated the state's death penalty and replaced it with the sentence of "life in prison without possibility of parole", according to Omaha-World Herald.

The state legislature's 28-20 decision follows close behind the Nebraska Supreme Court's February 8, 2008, ruling that death by electrocution was cruel and unusual punishment and thus unconstitutional. Electrocution was the only execution method that Nebraska used for capital punishment. As of the state legislature's March 25 decision to reject LB 1063 and keep the death penalty, Nebraska has no legal means of executing criminals.

Omaha World Herald reports that Senator Ernie Chambers, who introduced the bill in his last term in office, said, "I end my career holding to that one unwavering, unshakeable belief and conviction that the state should not kill anybody." Fast Facts:

1. Bill: LB 1063
2. Introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers
3. Rejected: on March 25, 2008
4. Purpose: Replace death penalty with "life without parole"
5. Vote: 28-20
6. Senator Chambers reaches term limit at end of 2008

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