Md. Senate President Seeks Death Penalty Resumption

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's Senate president says he will push during the current session of the state legislature to resume use of the death penalty.

Maryland's highest court halted the death penalty in December 2006, a month before Gov. Martin O'Malley took office, until new procedures are developed. The governor unsuccessfully lobbied the legislature to repeal the death penalty before proposing new regulations. Since then, a review panel headed by two lawmakers opposed to capital punishment has yet to take action, and Senate President Mike Miller says allowing the issue to sit is making a mockery of the legislative process.

O'Malley as governor has clemency power and has said he will decide whether to commute death sentences that come before him on a case-by-case basis.

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