New Jersey today became the first US state to legislatively abolish the death penalty since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.
Lawmakers in the Democrat-controlled state Assembly voted 44 to 36 in favor of a bill to scrap the death penalty, and substitute it with life in prison without the possibility of parole for those found guilty of the most serious crimes.
The vote follows approval by the state Senate on Monday and the measure will now be signed into law by Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, an opponent of capital punishment.
New Jersey, which has not executed anyone since 1963, becomes the 14th state without a death penalty at a time when its use is declining in most of the 36 states - plus the federal government and the US military - that retain it.