Supreme Court to hear Boston Marathon bomber death penalty case

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out the capital sentences of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and ordered a new sentencing proceeding.

• Mar 22, 2021

Lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty in Virginia

The legislation repealing the death penalty now heads to Democratic Governor Ralph Northam, who has said he will sign it into law, making Virginia the 23rd state to stop executions.

• Feb 22, 2021

Alabama scraps execution after U.S. Supreme Court ruling on pastor

The high court said Alabama had to let Willie B. Smith III have his pastor in the chamber when he was put to death. Alabama insists non-prison personnel should be kept out for security reasons.

• Feb 12, 2021

Virginia legislature votes to end death penalty

Virginia has put more people to death over its centuries-long history than any other state.

• Feb 5, 2021

Sotomayor slams "unprecedented rush" in federal executions

"The Federal Government will have executed more than three times as many people in the last six months than it had in the previous six decades," Sotomayor dissented. "...This is not justice."

• Jan 17, 2021

U.S. executes drug trafficker who recently contracted COVID

Lawyers argued that would cause excruciating pain for Corey Johnson during the execution – the second-to-last under Trump administration.

• Jan 15, 2021

Federal government executes a woman for the first time since 1953

The Supreme Court cleared the way for Lisa Montgomery to be put to death. In 2004, she killed a woman and took her fetus from her abdomen.

• Jan 13, 2021

Lisa Montgomery's sister speaks out ahead of execution

In 2004, Lisa Montgomery was arrested after she murdered 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in Missouri, who was eight months pregnant. She was later convicted of capital murder and federal kidnapping -- leading to a death sentence. Now on the eve of her execution, her sister, Diane Mattingly, spoke to CBSN's Lana Zak about why Montgomery should be given clemency for her crimes.

• Jan 11, 2021
• 11:30

Federal execution set for Lisa Montgomery

Lisa Montgomery is the only woman on federal death row. She was convicted of the 2004 kidnap and murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnet, who was eight-months pregnant at the time. Thirteen years after Montgomery was sentenced the death penalty, her lawyer Kelley Henry joins CBSN's Lana Zak to explain that her client is incompetent and has been mentally ill for most of her life. (Warning: Details of this story may be disturbing to some viewers)

• Jan 10, 2021
• 08:38

Federal executions under Trump

The U.S. government later this month is set to execute the only woman on federal death row. Federal executions have become commonplace under the Trump administration, with 10 people having been put to death since July and three more executions scheduled before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. According to a recent article published by ProPublica, in the Trump administration's rush to carry out these executions, it quote "trampled over an array of barriers, both legal and practical." ProPublica reporter Isaac Arnsdorf joined CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss his reporting.

• Jan 2, 2021
• 10:14

Appeals court lifts delay of Lisa Montgomery's execution

A lower court judge had earlier vacated an order from the Bureau of Prisons scheduling her death for January 12.

• Jan 2, 2021

In a first, feds have executed more inmates this year than states

Death Penalty Information Center head says, "We never expected to see it. And it may be a long time before we ever see it happen again."

• Dec 16, 2020

U.S. executes Louisiana man who killed 2-year-old daughter

Bourgeois was the 10th federal death-row inmate put to death since federal executions resumed under President Trump in July after a 17-year hiatus.

• Dec 12, 2020

Brandon Bernard executed for role in 1999 murder of couple

Brandon Bernard was executed Thursday for his involvement in a 1999 murder, despite pleas for a commutation from former jurors, criminal justice advocates and celebrities.

• Dec 11, 2020

U.S. bishops call for end to executions

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City joined CBSN's "Red and Blue" to discuss the Catholic Church's opposition to the death penalty ahead of Brandon Bernard's scheduled execution.

• Dec 10, 2020
• 07:31

Advocates fight to stop the ninth federal execution of 2020

Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old inmate, is scheduled to die Thursday at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.

• Dec 10, 2020

New LA County district attorney sworn in

Newly sworn-in George Gascón announced that county prosecutors will no longer seek cash bail for any misdemeanor or non-violent, non-serious felony offenses, among other changes. CBS Los Angeles' Jasmine Viel reports.

• Dec 7, 2020
• 02:57

Los Angeles County prosecutor to end cash bail for most offenses

George Gascón, the newly sworn-in DA, announced a series of sweeping changes, including the end of charging minors as adults.

• Dec 7, 2020

Former prosecutor now says inmate "does not deserve" death sentence

The 40-year-old was convicted for his role in the murders of youth ministers Todd and Stacie Bagley in 2000.

• Dec 3, 2020

Feds execute drug dealer who helped bury teen alive

Orlando Hall's execution was opposed due to coronavirus fears and because all-white jury recommended the Black man be put to death.

• Nov 20, 2020

Bangladesh approves death penalty for rape, but will it help?

Activists who have pushed for an end to the Asian nation's "culture" of rape say the law change is aimed at easing pressure on the government, not protecting women.

• Oct 12, 2020

US executes first Black man since federal executions resumed

Christopher Vialva was executed for a double murder he committed at 19.

• Sep 24, 2020

Only Native American man on federal death row executed

Lezmond Mitchell had no last words, simply responding, "No, I'm good."

• Aug 27, 2020

DOJ to seek death penalty once again for Boston Marathon bomber

This decision comes after a federal appeals court in Massachusetts overturned Tsarnaev's death sentence last month.

• Aug 21, 2020

Death sentence overturned for Boston Marathon bomber

A Massachusetts appeals court on Friday overturned the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man convicted in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. CBSN Boston reports.

• Jul 31, 2020
• 40:02

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