"To take those [Division of Correction] procedures and put them into the format of a regulation and run them through the process is a relatively easy thing to accomplish," said Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the House minority leader. "But if we have a governor who decides to casually pick and choose what he's going to adhere to in the Constitution, we're all at great risk. We feel strongly about that."
Leaders with Maryland Citizens Against State Executions quoted Stevens' opinion yesterday in calling for the state to maintain its de facto moratorium on executions until lawmakers have a chance in January to consider the results of a death penalty study that the legislature recently approved.
O'Malley, a death penalty opponent, has held off ordering the new injection procedures required by the 2006 appeals court decision, saying that he wanted to give the General Assembly another opportunity this year to debate death penalty repeal.
