WASHINGTON (AP) — After a moratorium on federal executions and a commitment to abolish the death penalty from the current administration, Attorney General Merrick Garland recently approved seeking capital punishment for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket. This decision marks a significant shift in the Justice Department’s approach to the death penalty.
Since taking office, Garland’s Justice Department has refrained from taking on new death penalty cases, reversing more than two dozen decisions to seek capital punishment. This contrasts sharply with the previous administration, which carried out 13 federal executions in just six months. The complex history of the death penalty in the U.S. has been on full display in recent years as President Biden campaigned on a promise to abolish it, yet concrete steps towards abolition have been limited.
While some observers note a lack of consistent approach from the Justice Department, others commend the current administration for pulling back significantly on the use of capital punishment. However, the approval of the death penalty in the Buffalo case signals a continued willingness to pursue it in certain instances.
In this latest case, 20-year-old Payton Gendron pleaded guilty to a racially motivated mass shooting at a largely Black neighborhood. Prosecutors stated that he carried out the attack with a semi-automatic weapon marked with racial slurs and phrases, highlighting the racial implications of the crime.
Despite concerns about severe punishments for young defendants, the Justice Department’s decision to pursue the death penalty in this case has drawn mixed reactions. While some advocate for capital punishment as a form of justice for the victims, others argue that racial discrimination has tainted the history of the death penalty and call for alternative solutions to addressing extreme violence.
In summary, the approval of seeking capital punishment in the Buffalo case underscores the ongoing debate and complexities surrounding the death penalty in the U.S. While the current administration has shown a reluctance to use it, certain cases have prompted the Justice Department to move forward with seeking the ultimate punishment. The decision-making process for the death penalty calls for a careful and meticulous review, underscoring the gravity and significance of these determinations.