The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights has called on the state to end the use of the death penalty, saying it is often applied unfairly against minorities and the poor. The commissioners, who enforce state and federal civil rights laws, urged Kentucky lawmakers in a resolution last week to repeal the law that allows the use of the death penalty in some murder cases.
The resolution unanimously passed by the commissioners will be submitted to Go. Steve Beshear and to each state legislator.
As of April 1, Kentucky had 35 inmates on death row. Kentucky last executed an inmate in 2008.
State Sen. Gerald Neal of Louisville told The Courier-Journal that lawmakers have considered abolishing capital punishment, but have never passed legislation doing so.