The Delaware Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether or not to convert the sentences of men on death row to life in prison before the end of the year.
After narrowly ruling that the state’s death penalty was unconstitutional in August, the Delaware Supreme Court must now decide the fate of 13 men awaiting execution.
Attorney General Matt Denn (D) declined to appeal the death penalty ruling, but says these executions should be carried out.
Death penalty supporters argue the state has an obligation to carry out those original sentences so victims’ family members can get closure.
But those who backed a legislative repeal effort here say those men were given a death sentence under a flawed system that the courts later overturned.
Lawyers for Derrick Powell, who killed Georgetown Police officer Chad Spicer in 2009 and had requested a life sentence at trial, will argue the case.
Oral arguments are Dec. 7.
