Skip to main content arrow-down arrow-tail-right arrow-triangle-right calendar camera compass download email eye facebook flag mail phone pin play send square-right tag twitter youtube badge message

DPP Talk Series 2015: The Decline of the Death Penalty in America: A Focus on Virginia by Professor Brandon Garrett

  • Events
  • 3 Jun 2015

The death penalty in America is disappearing. Executions have reached the lowest levels seen in decades. Even the states formerly most aggressive in pursuit of death sentences have seen death sentences steadily decline. In Virginia, for example, which has the highest rate of execution of any death penalty state, and which has executed the second highest number of prisoners since the 1970s, there are now two or fewer trials a year at which a judge or jury even considers imposing the death penalty. Still more surprising, over one half of those trials now result in a life sentence. Why is this happening and in Virginia of all places? Professor Brandon Garrett will examine how the role of adequate legal representation may play in the future of the death penalty in America, drawing on evidence from Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. 

About Brandon Garrett

Brandon is a Professor of Law at the University of Virginia. His research interests include criminal procedure, wrongful convictions, habeas corpus, corporate crime, scientific evidence, civil rights, civil procedure and constitutional law. Brandon’s recent research includes studies of DNA exonerations and organisational prosecutions. His much acclaimed book, “Convicting the Innocent: Where Criminal Prosecutions Go Wrong”, received an A.B.A. Silver Gavel Award, Honorable Mention and and Constitutional Commentary Award. It has been translated for editions in Japan, Taiwan and China. Brandon’s work is widely cited by courts and he frequently speaks about criminal justice matters before legislative and policy-making bodies.

 

Details

Date: Monday, 22nd June 2015

Time: 6pm-7pm, followed by drinks

Venue: The Death Penalty Project, 8-9 Frith Street, W1D 3JB

RSVP to [email protected] 

Latest news

Privy Council clarifies the approach trial judges should adopt when explaining “intent” to juries in The Bahamas
Read More
International Women's Day Q&A: Women in Human Rights
Read More
Cayman News Service: UK court rules against closed-door legal hearing
Read More
Cayman Loop News - Justin Ramoon, sentenced for murder, gets go ahead for judicial review
Read More
PRESS RELEASE - Privy Council refuses to allow Cayman Government to hold secret hearings in prisoner transfer case
Read More
Cayman Compass - Privy Council rules against secret trial for exiled killers
Read More
Cayman Marl Road - Privy Council refuses secret hearings in Cayman prisoner transfer case
Read More
NEW op-ed: Time to scrap capital punishment in Taiwan
Read More
Privy Council: Appeal dismissed amidst serious disclosure failings
Read More
James Guthrie, impressive barrister whose work in the Privy Council included a string of landmark cases – obituary
Read More
LATEST OP-ED: Hoyle & Jabbar - Death penalty doesn’t deter crime
Read More
New article in Kenya's The Star: Death row convicts in Kenya not threatened by penalty – findings
Read More
PRESS RELEASE - New research exploring socio-economic profiles of Kenya’s death row prisoners
Read More
Kenyan prisoners on death row weren’t deterred by the threat of the death penalty: new research findings
Read More
The Death Penalty Project pays tribute to James Guthrie KC
Read More
London-based NGO to challenge lawfulness of Guyana’s death penalty at CCJ
Read More
PRESS RELEASE - Guyana’s Court of Appeal refuses to declare the death penalty unconstitutional
Read More
The Conversation: 'Why has Kenya not abolished the death penalty? Habit and inertia'
Read More
Political and legal issues: reflections on our report launch in Kenya, Nairobi
Read More

Stay up-to-date with our work