Russ Feingold: “I rise with regret to mark another milestone in the history of our system of justice. This morning's papers report that…”

“I rise with regret to mark another milestone in the history of our system of justice. This morning's papers report that yesterday the state of Texas carried out its 39th execution, the most of any state since 1862, when the military hanged 39 Native Americans in one day in Minnesota. This evening, Texas is scheduled to surpass that record with its 40th execution. This is a regrettable record. This year, as of yesterday, states in America have executed 82 people. We have reached a sad state of affairs when this Country executes nearly 100 people every year. In 1998, only China and the Congo executed more people a year than did the United States. And we have reached an inequitable state of affairs when nearly half of the executions this year--39 out of the 82 to date--were carried out in just one state. The state with the next most executions this year, Oklahoma, has had 11 executions. Southern states have carried out nearly 9 out of 10 executions that have taken place this year. Across the street, the building that holds the Supreme Court of the United States has emblazoned across its pediment the words ``Equal Justice Under Law.'' In a Nation that prides itself in that equal justice, how can we abide a system where nearly half of the executions are carried out in just one state? Finally, I rise to mark another milestone. On Tuesday of next week, the Federal Government is scheduled to reenter the grim business of execution.…”