Outgoing governor: Nevada has to solve death penalty issue

By RIO YAMAT and KEN RITTER
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Outgoing Gov. Steve Sisolak says his failed bid to have the state Board of Pardons vote on clearing Nevada’s death row before he leaves office should spur debate about capital punishment in the state. The Democratic governor and pardons board members were blocked from acting on Tuesday by a judge’s ruling Monday saying that families of victims weren’t given proper notice before the meeting. There are 57 inmates in Nevada awaiting execution, and Sisolak calls the system broken. He notes there hasn’t been an execution in Nevada since 2006. The Democratic-led state Legislature could take up the death penalty question when it meets in Carson City starting in February.