Maryland’s legislature voted today to
end the state’s use of the death penalty. The governor – who
supported the ban – will make it official next month. Maryland is
the 18th state to ban the death penalty.

NBC News
reports:

Maryland has five men on death row; the new legislation would
allow the governor to commute their sentences. The state last
executed someone in 2005. It has put five people to death since
reinstating the death penalty in 1978.

The House of Delegates rejected more than 20 proposed amendments
to the ban, most proposed by Republicans, including some that would
have allowed the death penalty in certain cases, such as child
murders and the killing of police officers.

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