How Three Previous Governors Approached Executive Clemency Mary Fallin, 2011-2019įallin, a Republican, reviewed two clemency recommendations and rejected both. Smith remains incarcerated at the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre. During a clemency hearing, Smith’s attorneys argued that the state improperly used his criminal record to prove aggravating circumstances in the 1986 murder of John Cederlund. Henry’s final clemency approval came on May 19, 2010, when he spared the life of Richard Tandy Smith. During a clemency hearing, Young’s attorneys argued the murder was not premeditated and did not warrant the death penalty. Young was sentenced to death in 1996 for shooting and killing a man in a robbery gone wrong. Henry commuted Kevin Young’s sentence to life without parole on July 24, 2008. ![]() ![]() Torres, a Mexican citizen, was not notified of his right to contact the Mexican consulate and seek legal representation, a violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. On May 13, 2004, Henry commuted death row prisoner Osbaldo Torres’ sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He declined to call off four other executions. Henry, a Democrat, granted clemency to three condemned men. Keating rejected three other clemency recommendations from July 2001 through December 2002. Keating said he believed Smith committed the murder but lacked the “moral certainty” that he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. No eyewitnesses or physical evidence linked Smith to the crime. On April 10, 2001, Keating spared the life of Phillip Dewitt Smith, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Matthew Dean Taylor. Keating, a Republican, approved one clemency request and denied three others. Frank Keating (File photo) Credit: Whitney Bryen / Oklahoma Watch Frank Keating, 1995-2003 Former Oklahoma Gov. The Georgia Board of Pardons, which does not need the governor’s approval in clemency decisions, spared the life of death row prisoner Jimmy Meders six hours before his scheduled execution.Īs Stitt decides whether to call off Jones’ execution, here’s how previous governors approached executive clemency: Gov. Greg Abbott granted clemency to death row prisoner Thomas Whitaker 30 minutes before his scheduled execution. Last-minute execution stays are occasionally granted. “I don’t think that’s anything that anybody wants to happen.” “It would be especially cruel if it got to the point where they’re in waiting rooms waiting to find out whether they’ll go into the execution or not,” he said. Walters’ Faith Committee Wants Ten Commandments in Every Public Classroom Dunham believes it’s unlikely Stitt is intentionally delaying the decision, but said a ruling made hours before the scheduled execution would be scarring to both the Howell and Jones family. “As Governor Stitt has indicated, his decision is not limited to the evidence that was before the board.”Īs of Tuesday evening, there’s no timetable on when Stitt will announce his decision. “Factors that may influence the Board of Pardons are certainly important, but they’re not a guarantee that the governor is going to be persuaded,” Dunham said. A growing group of conservatives and Republican state lawmakers who support the death penalty have joined Democrats in asking Stitt to accept the Pardon and Parole Board’s clemency recommendation. Please reload the page and try again.Īn October survey from Sooner Poll showed a majority of Oklahomans still favor capital punishment, but the results may not be an accurate indicator of public support for executing Jones. ![]() Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. How Three Previous Governors Approached Executive Clemency - Oklahoma Watch Close
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