Death penalty defenders ask Pa. Supreme Court to rein in Washington County DA

Death penalty defenders ask Pa. Supreme Court to rein in Washington County DA

Judge banging the gavel at court. (Getty Images)A group of lawyers who defend people facing capital punishment has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to take extraordinary action to restrict a prosecutor’s use of the death penalty. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh filed notices of his intent to pursue sentences of death in 11 out of 18 homicide cases his office has prosecuted since he took office in 2021, according to a petition…