by Marcia Reinke Simultaneous with the deadline for this issue of The Voter, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in a Kentucky case involving lethal injection. The case is similar to the Maryland case which has temporarily halted executions here in that it claims the injection method of execution used in most states amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth amendment. The case is to be heard in January, with a decision expected in June. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in December that the state’s execution procedures were developed improperly without public comment or legislative oversight. Efforts to repeal the Maryland death penalty died in committee (tie vote) last year, but will be continued in the upcoming session of the General Assembly. The drafting of regulations, which might meet Court of Appeals demands, has been held up by Governor Martin O’Malley, a death penalty opponent, in order to give the state legislature another opportunity to repeal capital punishment. With less than four months before the legislative session starts in Annapolis, the coalition known as Maryland Citizens Against State Executions (MDCASE), of which LWVMD is a member, is building a list of active repeal supporters via a series of events and forums across the state. Now that LWVMD has a position for death penalty repeal, all member are urged to bring their neighbors, families and friends to these events. Here’s the October schedule: • Monday, Oct. 1 – Victim’s Family Members Speak Out, St. John’s Baptist Church, 8910 Old Annapolis Road, Columbia, 7 p.m. • Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6 – In the street, Frederick. MD CASE will be handing out literature and getting signatures all day. • Sunday Oct. 7 – Takoma Park Street Festival, all day. • Sunday, Oct 7 – Kirk Bloodsworth speaks in DC. Blessed Sacrament Church, 6001 Western Ave NW, 4 p.m. • Friday – Sunday, Oct 19 – 21, National Weekend of Faith in Action. Further information about MDCASE, its plans and programs may be found at http://www.mdcase.org.