PIERRE, S.D. A judge-turned-lawmaker urged colleagues in the South Dakota Senate on Tuesday to abolish the state’s death penalty for almost all crimes, recalling that one of the most difficult actions he took during his career on the bench was sentencing a man to die.
Republican Arthur Rusch presented his case for a bill that would allow the death penalty only for people convicted of killing a law enforcement officer or firefighter.
The South Dakota Catholic Conference and some conservative lawmakers are supporting the bill, but their fellow Republicans, prosecutors and a murder victim’s family are actively opposing it.
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