The New York Times

Friday, February 11, 2000

National News Briefs

US REVIEWS FAIRNESS OF DEATH SENTENCES

Washington, Feb. 10 (AP) - The Justice department said today that it was reviewing whether minority convicts had received more federal death sentences that whites.

The review was begun two months ago at the request of Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said.

Mr. Holder said the review would not prevent the Bureau of Prisons from setting an execution date for any of the 21 people on death row at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind. Two-thirds of those prisoners are members of minorities.

With appeals under way, no executions have been scheduled.