Massachusetts Death Penalty Reinstatement Hearing
Boston State House
October 23, 2007

House Bill 1511 was filed by Rep. Brad Jones to reinstate the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill was heard on October 23, 2007 before the Joint Committees on the Judiciary. No one testified in favor of the bill. On November 7, 2007, House lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected the bill by a vote of 46 to 110. The vote effectively killed any chance of the bill becoming law for the 2007 session.


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Robert Curley, whose son Jeffery was murdered in Cambridge, was once a proponent of the death penalty but speaks against it. Loretta Filipov, widow of Al Filipov of Concord who was killed in the September 11 attacks. Renny Cushing (right) with members of Murder Victims' Families For Human Rights
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Richard Nethercutt, father of murder victim Jaina Nethercut and member of Murder Victims' Families For Human Rights The conference room for the hearing was standing room only - with no one to speak in favor of the bill.
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Members of the committee listening during debate Members of the committee listening during debate Rev. Jack Johnson, of the Massachusetts Council of Churches
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Mustaque Mirza, representing the Muslim faith tradition, pauses for a prayer after his testimony against the bill. Jim Rooney of MCADP

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