Tom Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor in Northern Illinois, will be a key speaker at an anti-death penalty lobby day on February 20 at the state capitol in Jefferson City. Sullivan is well known in criminal justice circles in Illinois, serving as a former co-chair of the Illinois Capital Punishment Commission appointed to review and recommend reforms during the state’s execution moratorium initiated by former Governor Ryan. Sullivan is coming to Jefferson City to share his concerns about the effectiveness of capital punishment as a public policy.

With a theme of “Moratorium Now” participants at the lobby day will be urging state lawmakers to support legislation calling for a three-year moratorium on executions while Missouri conducts a study of its death-penalty system. Rep. Bill Deeken (R-Jefferson City) along with 12 other Republicans and 30 Democrats has filed HB 445 which calls for such a moratorium and study by the state. A similar bill is expected to be filed soon in the Senate.

The Missouri Catholic Conference is co-sponsoring the February lobby day. Other groups co-sponsoring the event include Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, American Friends Service Committee, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Missouri State Conference NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lobby day will begin at 10:15 a.m. in House Committee Room 3 in the Capitol basement. After hearing from a variety of speakers including Tom Sullivan, participants will be given an update on legislation and guidance for lobbying. Participants will have from 11:30-2:00 p.m. to lobby their legislators.

Catholics across the state are invited to participate in this lobbying event. Organizers are arranging bus transportation or car pooling from the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. For more information about the event please contact the MCC office at 1-800-456-1679.