• While Governor in Massachusetts Romney filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty for
deadly acts of terrorism, killing sprees and murders involving torture and the killings of law
enforcement personnel.

• The bill called for substantial scientific evidence such as DNA verification to sentence
someone to death.

• The bill also called for a proper representation for the indigent from a certified pool of
lawyers. It also allowed jurors who were not supporters of the death penalty to partake in the guilt
phase of the trial.

• He described the bill as a gold standard or model for the nation in case of capital
punishment and said it would give the state a foolproof death penalty.

• Mitt Romney favors the death penalty in cases of heinous crimes such as first degree
homicides.

• Romney said that the ultimate penalty should be available in Massachusetts for criminals
who commit the most egregious murders.

• He supports judges who are tough on crime and advocated tough sentencing for violent
offenders and also is for the 'three strikes' policy.

• Romney did say that the provisions in his bill could not always rule out wrongful
convictions.

• Romney's capital punishment bill turned out to be a political disaster later on.  The bill
was widely opposed and defeated and Mitt Romney was accused of working towards it to further his
2008 presidential ambitions.

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