Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has finally done what some recent governors may have contemplated, but never did—call for the end of the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

In June 2018 the Joint State Government Commission, Task Force and Advisory Committee on Capital Punishment, established under Senate Resolution 6 of 2011, issued its long-awaited report. I was a member of the advisory committee that reviewed 17 different aspects of the death penalty and made eight recommendations to the legislature.