Governor Pete Ricketts has vetoed legislation passed by the Unicameral that would repeal the death penalty.  He admits the legislature’s vote on the repeal of the death penalty took him by surprise.

Lawmakers voted 32-to-15, with two senators not voting to eliminate capital punishment.  Ricketts has to flip three votes to sustain his veto of the repeal.

Legislators will likely consider whether to override the veto, and Ricketts has renewed his call on the public to weigh in.

Last minute appeals are being made of state lawmakers by those who support capital punishment.