After 14 Years Louisiana Considering How To Reinstate Death Sentence

It was 2010 when Gerald Bordelon was legally executed in the state of Louisiana.

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In a story from nola.com, we are reminded that Bordelon had been sentenced to death for the murder of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Courtney LeBlanc.

And before his execution, Louisiana had not put any other prisoner to death for another eight years, dating back to 2002.

However, at present, there are 59 prisoners sitting on Louisiana's death row with no visible execution date in site.  How can this be?

That's a question that newly elected Governor Jeff Landry would like for legislators to consider in next month's special session.

An article from the louisianaradionetwork.com points out Landry would like for this session to focus on justice for the families of victims whose killers remain on death row.

Landry Wants Session To Focus On Victim's Rights; Not Criminal Rights

“This crime session is going to be victim oriented not criminal oriented. It’s about the rights of the victims not the rights of the criminals.”

While Landry understands that Louisiana has run into roadblocks obtaining the necessary drugs in order to carry out legal executions, he points out that states like Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama have dealt with these same shortages and have figured ways to carry out the executions.

Landry Wants Laws Tightened Up To Fulfill Victim Obligations

“I think the special session is going to address the flaws and tighten up the laws so that they look more like Texas and Arkansas – states that have successfully fulfilled their obligations to victims.”

As reported by cnn.com last week, on Thursday, January 25, Alabama became the first state to carry out a legal execution by nitrogen hypoxia, when they successfully executed inmate Kenneth Smith for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire.

Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall is quoted as stating,

“As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one. It’s the method that Kenneth Smith ultimately chose, along with 43 other death row inmates in our state.”  “I now suspect many states will follow.”

Landry Says Louisiana Has Promised Victims' Families Justice

Could the use of nitrogen hypoxia be an alternative? Are there other forms that have yet to be considered?

Those are the things Governor Landry wants legislators to consider now and begin to work on moving these 59 death row inmates closer to paying for their crimes.

Regarding the promised justice for the families of these victims, Landry says,

"They have a contract with the state of Louisiana for the justice that they start and we are going to live up to our contracts.”