During the first five hours of testimony before the Connecticut legislature's Judiciary Committee, no one spoke against repealing the death penalty.

Jordan Fenster is covering the story for the Register and we invite you to visit www.nhregister.com for updates.

As Senate Bill 280 is written, the death penalty would still apply retroactively to the 11 inmates on the state's death row. Some members of the Judiciary Committee expressed concern that death sentences already handed down could possibly be reduced to lighter sentences.

Although no one had spoken against repeal at the time this post was uploaded, written testimony opposing SB 280 had been submitted to the committee.

We have the text of the bill and some of the testimonies - for and against repeal - available below for you to  view.

Last year, a similar bill drew heated debate before finally failing when two senators withdrew their support.

You may also watch the live stream at 11 a.m. on CT-N.

Please feel free to express your views here on the blog or by emailing us at voices@nhregister.com.

Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are offering a Legislative Advocacy Training Tuesday, March 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the New Haven People's Center, 37 Howe St.

The organizations will give participants background on five bills being considered by the Connecticut General Assembly that affect civil rights, and teach people how to prepare and give testimony before a legislative committee.

Here the bills that will be addressed Tuesday:

¡La legislatura de Connecticut está considerando cambios de ley que afecten nuestros derechos humanos! Aprenda sobre propuestas de ley sobre: Racial Profiling by The Police - Discriminación racial por la policía Right to Record The Police - Nuestro derecho de grabar video de la policía Abolishing the Death Penalty - Aboliendo la pena de muerte Red Light Cameras & Surveillance - Uso de cámaras de vigilancia por la policía Medical Use of Marijuana - Uso medicinal de marijuana Pizza will be served. For more information, contact (para mas informacion, puedes llamar) Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA) at (203) 479-2959. For those who may be reading this from the Hartford area, the University of Connecticut's Urban Community Studies Program will be sponsoring two events this week. On Wednesday, March 7 there will be a discussion at 7 p.m. on economic individuality and social activism. On Thursday, March 8 local community activists and organizers will share experiences and tools that can be used to create change. Both events will be held at the UConn Greater Hartford campus, Room 104 in the Information Technology Building, 1796 Asylum St., West Hartford. Special thanks to the the sponsors of the New Haven and West Hartford gatherings. Feel free to send community news to Angi Carter or Ed Stannard via email at voices@nhregister.com. We're also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Your Open Newsroom and on Twitter @nhrvoices.