Head of PA District Attorney's: Wolf Death Penalty Moratorium is Illegal, Unconstitutional
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Richard Long, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Association, called Governor Tom Wolf's efforts to end the death penalty a violation of the law in the commonwealth.
Long told Rich Zeoli on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that Wolf's actions are clearly outside of his jurisdiction.
"We believe that the Governor has stepped beyond his authority and has issued an illegal, unconstitutional moratorium of the death penalty in Pennsylvania."
He claimed the Governor's handling of the issue is an abuse of the statute and the death penalty can only be terminated in Pennsylvania through an act of the legislature.
"He's trying to short-circuit all of that. The basis of our opposition, and Philadelphia's opposition as well, is that he is misusing the reprieve power. He does have the reprieve power in the Constitution, but the reprieve power is limited to specific cases and for specific reasons within each case. He's trying to use the reprieve as a blanket umbrella manner in which to apply to every case and impose a moratorium. That's the nuts and bolts of where he has gone astray and overstepped his authority."
Long credited Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams for stepping up the fight to save the death penalty.
"It was really Philadelphia that took the lead on that and DA Seth Williams. Seth is a Democrat but Seth recognizes that the Governor was elected Governor, not King, and needs to execute the laws as they are currently constructed."