executions Archives - Davis Vanguard

DeSantis Era Sees Florida Executions Soar to Decades-High Levels

By Junwen ZhangJuly 8, 2026

Florida has significantly escalated its execution rate since 2025, positioning the state as a national outlier amidst a broader decline in capital punishment across the United States. This acceleration, driven by an increased issuance of death warrants under Governor Ron DeSantis, has intensified debate regarding the fairness and efficacy of capital punishment, particularly concerning legal challenges and potential wrongful convictions.

Global Executions Surge to 44-Year High, Amnesty International Warns

By David M. GreenwaldMay 18, 2026

Amnesty International’s annual report on capital punishment documented a surge in global executions to their highest level since 1981 during 2025. The human rights organization attributed the overwhelming majority of these executions to Iran, while noting that the United States also recorded its highest execution total since 2009.

Death Sentences for 18-20 Year-Olds at 20-Year Low, DPIC Report Finds

By Owais KhanApril 16, 2026

The Death Penalty Information Center released data showing that death sentences and executions for individuals aged 18-20 at the time of their crimes continued a decades-long downward trend in 2025, with only one person in this age group sentenced to death and three executed, down from five in 2024.

Idaho First State to Shield Firing Squad Executions from Court Review

By Joseph FranzeseApril 13, 2026

A new Idaho law exempts execution procedures from judicial review and public scrutiny, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the death penalty system.

NYT Editorial Board Warns of Death Penalty Resurgence, Calls for Abolition

By Arielle AmriMarch 22, 2026

The New York Times editorial board has warned that the death penalty is resurging in the United States, citing its flaws, injustice, and the fact that it is out of step with modern moral standards.

Surge in Death Penalty Cases Results in 47 Executions Across 11 States in 2025

By Ria BaggaFebruary 5, 2026

The United States recorded its highest number of executions since 2009 in 2025, with 47 people executed across 11 states, as the Supreme Court denied every request to delay an execution during a nationwide surge in death penalty cases.

Arizona Series of Botched Lethal Injections Highlights Debate over Execution Methods

By Tyler Harty-RollinsJanuary 25, 2026

Arizona’s botched executions have sparked a national debate over the use of lethal injections, with questions raised about the humanity of capital punishment and the need for alternative execution methods.

Former Warden Warns of Faulty Executions as Florida Speeds up Lethal Injections

By Paris XiaDecember 26, 2025

Former Florida State Prison Warden Ron McAndrew argues that Florida’s rapid scheduling of executions is pushing the state’s lethal injection system beyond its limits, increasing the risk of faulty administrations and inflicting lasting trauma on both condemned prisoners and prison staff.

Shapiro’s Death Penalty Reprieve Marks a Shift in Pennsylvania’s Capital Punishment Laws

By Paris XiaDecember 20, 2025

Gov. Josh Shapiro issued his first death penalty reprieve, continuing Pennsylvania’s moratorium on executions and reflecting a shift towards abolishing capital punishment, while urging the Legislature to enact sentencing reform.

Texas Death Penalty Costs Soar Despite Historically Low Executions in 2025

By Vanguard AdministratorDecember 16, 2025

Texas judges scheduled the fewest executions in at least three decades in 2025, but the state continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars pursuing capital punishment despite persistent problems involving cost, geography, innocence claims, and racial disparities.

Florida’s Record Execution Year Sparks Criticism of Death Penalty System

By Bella BenavidesDecember 11, 2025

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) denounced the execution of Mark Allen Geralds, arguing that his case illustrates deep flaws in Florida’s death penalty system, including unresolved forensic issues and inadequate mental health evaluations.

Death Penalty Opponents Launch Major Campaign Amid Execution Surge

By David M. GreenwaldDecember 4, 2025

The U.S. Campaign to End the Death Penalty, a coalition of over 50 organizations, has been launched to abolish capital punishment, citing rising executions, political pressure, and a widening gap between public sentiment and state practices.

Rising Death Sentencing Tied to Republican Politics

By Kailyn StandiferDecember 2, 2025

The Economist reports that the US is executing people at double the rate compared to last year, with the rise attributed to Republican political ambitions and a decrease in court oversight of the death penalty.

Report Warns of ‘Thirst for Blood’ As Executions Rise Under Trump and Bondi

By Max LeoneNovember 8, 2025

The United States has seen a surge in executions nationwide, driven by a “federal and state-level thirst for blood” as President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi expand executions, with 41 executions occurring so far this year, the highest number in over a decade.

Arkansas Faith Leaders Urge Gov. Sanders Not to Restart Executions

By Vanguard AdministratorAugust 23, 2025

Arkansas faith leaders have urged Governor Sarah Sanders not to restart executions in the state, citing concerns about the use of gas asphyxiation and calling for the state to invest in programs that prevent crime and provide support for victims.

Plea to Gov. DeSantis: Stop Executing Veterans on Florida’s Death Row

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 14, 2025

Military veterans and capital defense attorneys are urging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to stop the execution of veterans on Florida’s death row, including Kayle Bates, who is scheduled to be executed on August 19th, citing the fact that veterans are twice as likely to be on death row as the general population due to their service-related mental health issues.

executions