Change made appeals predictable in Oklahoma

In 1996, family members of those killed in the bombing rallied state and federal lawmakers for change. They were awaiting the convictions of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and co-conspirator Terry Nichols. McVeigh was convicted, and in 2001 he was executed. Nichols was convicted and is serving a life sentence without parole.

In a 1996 letter to the editor published in The Oklahoman, a group said they pushed for the reforms because "our death penalty appeals process has made a mockery of the criminal justice system.”

"We can’t let terrorism rule our lives,” said the letter signed by 29. "We must demand that Congress enact meaningful anti-terrorism laws, including the reform of the death penalty appeals process.”