Executions down in United States

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Recent figures indicate the number of death sentences carried out in the United States declined to lows not seen for at least 10 years.

The Death Penalty Information Center, based in Washington, said 42 death sentences were carried out in 2007, down 57 percent from 1998, CNN reported.

Experts suggested the number of executions will continue to fall following several developments in state and federal law.

The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled argument for Jan. 7 in a case looking into whether the three-drug cocktail used in lethal injections in 36 of the 37 states using the practice constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Several states, awaiting that decision, imposed a moratorium on carrying out executions.

New Jersey became the first state in more than four decades to ban capital punishment when Gov. John Corzine signed legislation Monday outlawing it.

Texas leads the nation in the number of executions, with 26 death sentences carried out this year. Southern states carried out 86 percent of the U.S. executions in 2007.