A Gallup poll from October found 50% of Americans believe capital punishment is applied unfairly, compared to 47% who believe it is fairly implemented, Maher said. Nearly 200 death row exonerations since 1975, including three in 2023, also have helped changed people's minds about the fairness of the death penalty, Maher said. In recent years, various individuals across the country, including conservative legislators, have raised concerns about the death penalty or debated its future, Grosso said. One allows the death penalty in child rape convictions, despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning capital punishment in such cases. Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, has not been immune to the ongoing debate over the death penalty.

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Persons: —, Eric Berger, Alabama —, Robin M, Maher, ” Maher, Catherine Grosso, George Floyd, Grosso, Berger, Ron DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Corinna, Jeff Leach, “, ” Leach, ” Berger, ___, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, University of Nebraska, Washington, D.C, Gallup, Michigan State University’s College of Law, Florida Gov, U.S, Supreme, University of Richmond School of Law, GOP, Texas, Texas Senate Locations: U.S, Lincoln, Oklahoma, — Texas, Florida , Missouri , Oklahoma, Alabama, United States, Florida , Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Idaho, Virginia