Washington Supreme Court tosses state’s death penalty

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has ruled that Washington’s death penalty, as applied, violates the state Constitution.

The court was unanimous in its order that the eight people currently on death row have their sentences converted to life in prison.

Five justices said the “death penalty is invalid because it is imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner.”

The four other justices agreed but added “additional state constitutional principles compel this result.”.

Gov. Jay Inslee had imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in 2014, saying that no executions would take place while he’s in office.