December dramas for the death penalty

As detailed in this post, December 2004 was quite notable because it was the first month in over a decade in which no person was executed inthe United States.  December 2005 is also shaping up to be a noteworthy month for the death penalty for somewhat different reasons:

• On December 2, the 1000th execution in the modern death penalty era is likely to go forward (after a clemency grant to Robin Lovitt allowed Virginia to avoid this "grand" achievement).

• On December 7, the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in two important capital cases, Oregon v. Guzek (No. 04–928) and Kansas v. Marsh (No. 04–1170).  More details on these cases, and other capital cases on tap this Term, are available here from the DPIC.

• By December 13, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to decide whether to grant clemency to California death row inmate Stanley "Tookie" Williams in the highest profile capital case in many year.  More details on the Williams case are available in this prior post and its links, as well as in this long and effective post at the ACSBlog.

The Death Penalty Information Center continues to be one of the best places to follow all the action; the DPIC's What's New page always has interesting updates and information.