Republicans denounce proposed death penalty study

A proposed death penalty commission denounced by Republican leaders as a “stacked deck” for Gov. Martin O?Malley?s repeal position won approval in the House of Delegates on Monday.

The House passed a study of Maryland?s death penalty practices after rejecting Republican-led efforts to reduce the number of governor appointees and exclude members who belong to public policy groups. As proposed, the 19-member commission will include 12 members appointed by O?Malley, who opposes the death penalty, and will be staffed by his Office of Crime Control and Prevention.