O'Malley to Testify on Death Penalty Repeal

Gov. Martin O'Malley will testify in Annapolis on a measure to repeal the death penalty in Maryland.

O'Malley is scheduled to speak Thursday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.

The Democratic governor, who opposes capital punishment, pushed for repeal in 2009 and fell short. O'Malley says he believes the Maryland General Assembly has the will to ban capital punishment this session.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has also said that he believes repeal legislation will pass this year. Miller is a supporter of the death penalty.

Since 1976, Maryland has executed five people. Five men remain on death row.

NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori will be among those testifying.