Former U.S. attorney general to chair commission on capital punishment

ANNAPOLIS - Gov. Martin O’Malley announced Thursday the appointment of former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti to chair the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment. O’Malley and Civiletti were joined by Lt. Gov Anthony Brown (D) and state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis).

According to O’Malley, Civliletti “rose to national prominence during the Carter administration.”

The former U.S. Attorney General will be joined by 22 other members on the commission. Elected officials on the commission include state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park), state Sen. James Robey (D-Howard County), Del. Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), Del. William Frank (R-Baltimore County) and state’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D-Towson) among other Maryland citizens. “Fortunately only a small minority of this commission needs to get elected and reelected,” O’Malley told reporters.

According to Speaker Busch, the role of the commission will be to undertake a “comprehensive assessment of Maryland’s death penalty statute.” The issue of capital punishment has been lingering for years in the state, and is yet to be resolved. The commission is set to submit a final report on its findings to the General Assembly either on or before December 15, 2008.