Death Penalty News

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) held its 31st Annual Awards Dinner at the New Covenant Christian Church in Oklahoma City last week, and the keynote speaker was Adam Luck, who recounted his experience as chair of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board before resigning, under pressure from the governor. Luck described how his job required him to spend “hours and hours…days and days getting ready for meetings.” There were monthly envelopes which contained the materials needed for the meetings. The stories which he had read showed him the “brokenness and the pain” of those in the system. He said he would continuously hear such stories over the next three years.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer's handling of the case drew praise from Parkland families but criticism from Cruz's defense team. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida judge who gained a national profile while presiding over the Parkland school shooting trial announced Wednesday that she is resigning June 30 to pursue unspecified career opportunities. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer rose in prominence when she oversaw the televised penalty trial of Nikolas Cruz. He received a life sentence last year after a divided jury was unable to agree on the death penalty for the 2018 mass killing of 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “It has been a privilege to serve the people of the State of Florida for over 10 years,” Scherer wrote in her brief resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The resignation was first reported by Court TV.

Japan's justice minister stepped down on Friday, becoming the second minister to leave Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet over a scandal in less than a month and forcing a last-minute delay for the embattled premier's Asia tour. Kishida's support has slumped to the 30% level in many recent polls, close to a danger zone that would make it hard for him to promote his agenda. The justice minister, Yasuhiro Hanashi, had come under widespread criticism over comments reported in the media in which he made light of his duties, specifically signing off on executions, which he referred to as "tedious". "I made citizens and ministry staff uncomfortable," Hanashi told reporters after tendering his resignation to Kishida, referring to his comments about the death penalty. Earlier, Hanashi, a member of Kishida's faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was reported to have suggested there was little political advantage to his cabinet post...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma’s death penalty battle is at the center of a major shakeup today. The head of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is out because he disagrees with Gov. Kevin Stitt.  This comes as the state’s death chamber remains open ahead of a looming legal battle. Adam Luck had voted in favor of clemency for all five death row inmates that have come before the board.  In a resignation letter today, he implied that he doesn’t support the death penalty and Stitt has made clear that he does. Luck wrote to the governor that when he began, there was a moratorium on executions. He wrote that he realizes he doesn’t share Stitt’s opinion on capital punishment and honored his request to be able to appoint someone else. Stitt appointed Edward Konieczny, a former police officer who now is a minister. He was the bishop and president of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma for more than a decade. Konieczny’s name appears on a letter signed by religious leaders opposing the...

The fate of a Missouri death row inmate whose execution was halted last year after DNA evidence raised questions about his case is on hold as a result of former Gov. Eric Greitens' resignation. Marcellus Williams, 49, was hours away from being put to death in August when Greitens halted the execution. Williams was convicted of fatally stabbing former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle during a 1998 burglary at her suburban St. Louis home, but DNA evidence found on the murder weapon matched another unknown person. Greitens, a Republican, appointed a board of inquiry made up of five retired judges to look into the case. The board was scheduled to meet Tuesday in the governor's office but canceled, citing confusion about whether its authority continues after Greitens resigned last week. Greitens left office after months of investigations related to a 2015 extramarital affair and his alleged use of a charity donor list for political purposes. He was replace...

(CNN) Missouri's governor took the rare steps last year of staying the execution of a death row inmate and announcing the creation of a five-person panel to look at the case. But with Eric Greitens resigning in disgrace and leaving office Friday [Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens officially resigns amid allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign violations. - DPN], supporters of convicted killer Marcellus Williams, 49, were scrambling to figure out whether that board inquiry would ever meet. It had been scheduled to meet Tuesday but an attorney for Williams' team said they had been notified the meeting was canceled. Williams' supporters remained hopeful, but on Friday learned his name was not included on a clemency and pardon list released by Greitens' office before the governor resigned. Greitens decided to issue five pardons and commute four sentences before leaving his position. The list included men and women sentenced for crimes ranging from DWI to ...