USA - New Mexico. Prosecutors can still seek the death penalty despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty

The New Mexico Supreme Court decided today that prosecutors can seek the death penalty against Michael Astorga, but the decision affects several cases. Michael Paul Astorga is charged with first-degree murder in the 2006 shooting of Deputy James McGrane Jr. during a traffic stop. When Michael Astorga's trial begins in six months to a year, he could be sentenced to death. As a result of the Supreme Court's decision, 3 other New Mexico men could get the needle as well. Despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty, the state may not have seen its last lethal injection. The Supreme Court decided to allow death penalty prosecutions for crimes that happened before July, when the repeal took effect.