Jun 23 Oklahoma death row inmate plans to refuse clemency hearing but maintains innocence By Sean Murphy, Associated Press An Oklahoma death row inmate scheduled to be executed in September for the 1996 killing of a University of Oklahoma dance student says he plans to reject his chance for a clemency hearing. Continue reading
Apr 25 Watch 7:51 Texas woman’s last-minute reprieve on death row draws questions about wrongful convictions By Amna Nawaz, Frank Carlson The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution for 52-year-old Melissa Lucio, a woman who had been set to be the first Hispanic woman put to death by the state in modern history after being convicted of… Continue watching
Apr 14 Lawsuit over South Carolina execution methods allowed to move forward By Michelle Liu, Associated Press A judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by four death row inmates challenging South Carolina’s execution methods can move forward. Continue reading
Mar 24 Supreme Court says states must allow prayer, touch during executions By Jessica Gresko, Associated Press The Supreme Court says states must accommodate the wishes of death row inmates who want to have their pastors pray aloud and even touch them during their executions. Continue reading
Dec 25 Judge delays execution of only woman on U.S. death row By Michael Balsamo, Associated Press A federal judge said the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled the execution of the only woman on federal death row, potentially setting up the Trump administration to schedule the execution after president-elect Joe Biden takes office. Continue reading
Mar 06 Alabama executes man convicted in officers’ murders amid calls to save inmate By Kim Chandler, Associated Press Alabama's first execution of the year came after a last minute bid to stop it, that included support from the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Continue reading
Jun 21 Supreme Court throws out murder conviction of black inmate By Mark Sherman, Associated Press The court's 7-2 decision says the removal of black prospective jurors violated the rights of inmate Curtis Flowers. Continue reading
Mar 20 Watch 7:48 In Curtis Flowers case, race could be a matter of life or death Curtis Flowers has been tried six times for the murder of four people killed in a Mississippi furniture store in 1996. The case is the subject of the second season American Public Media’s “In the Dark” podcast. Now the Supreme… Continue watching
Dec 14 Executions remain at near record lows in 2018 By Jessica Gresko, Associated Press Twenty-five executions were carried out in 2018, the fourth consecutive year in which there have been fewer than 30 executions nationwide. Continue reading
Oct 09 Watch 2:27 ‘That Moment When’ a future civil rights lawyer learns the value of showing up By Steve Goldbloom, Zach Land-Miller Despite feeling unqualified to provide legal advice, Bryan Stevenson discovered that just “showing up" for others can make a huge difference in their lives. Continue watching