Outcome Uncertain for Inmates Waiting on Maryland Death Penalty Ban

Condemned prisoners might still be snuffed

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—After a years-long fight, Maryland is about to become the sixth state in as many years to repeal its death penalty.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, who championed the repeal, says he will sign it into law. But the Democrat still faces a tough choice—what to do about the five remaining Maryland inmates on death row? The repeal bill makes no provision for the five men sentenced to death, which even after a repeal of the death penalty could legally still be executed, should they exhaust all of their appeals.