Capitol View: Arkansas Attorney General Candidates Discuss Death Penalty

The three announced Arkansas Attorney General candidates discussed their views for resolving death penalty cases on this week’s edition of Capitol View.

There have not been any state executions in Arkansas since 2005 for a number of reasons including lack of available drugs, civil litigation by inmates, and finding willing medical personnel.

Arkansas lawmakers have attempted to resolve some of the problems from the drug and litigation perspectives, but still remain unable to clear legal hurdles.

Host David Goins sat down with Republicans David Sterling and Leslie Rutledge and Democrat Nate Steel for their views on the situation.

David Sterling (R)
“I don’t think it [the death penalty] is completely broken at all. I just think we need an AG who will stand up for the rule of law in Arkansas… I don’t think anyone takes the present administration seriously because we haven’t had an execution under the administration of either Dustin McDaniel or Mike Beebe and I’ll change that as Attorney General.”

Nate Steel (D)
“It’s a work in progress. I certainly support capital punishment, I always have as a prosecutor and as a legislator… We’re optimistic that we’re going to be able to shape a statute that we can facilitate capital punishment in the future, but it’s going to be a work in progress and as Attorney General I plan to continue that fight.”

Leslie Rutledge (R)
“We haven’t’ had an execution since 2005, so yes the system is broken. It’s up to the legislature to pass laws, and I’ll work with them, to be sure that they are constitutional and they will be upheld in the courts.”

You can watch their full exchange below.