Texas lawmaker proposes bill to abolish the death penalty

A Texas state lawmaker has introduced legislation to eliminate the death penalty in the state amid a high- profile death row case, that being Robert Roberson, currently unfolding.

This comes after the Texas Supreme Court cleared the way last week for the state to schedule a new execution date for inmate Robert Roberson, whose initial execution was delayed in October.  

Abolish The Death Penalty executive director Kristin Houle Cuellar has said that there have been fewer death sentences in the state in the last decade, due to the introduction in 2005 of life without parole.

 As a result, prosecutors have used that discretion in opting not to seek the death penalty. Further, in about 30 percent of the cases they’ve taken to trial where they’ve sought the death penalty, jurors have rejected it.

Similar bills to abolish the death penalty have also been filed by other lawmakers which will need to be voted on when the legislative session begins early next year.

You can read more about the proposed legislation here