Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty welcomes the decision that has halted the execution of Jeffery Lee. Today, we pause in gratitude that another human life has not been taken by the State of Alabama. While this stay does not resolve the many injustices that remain in Mr. Lee’s case or within Alabama’s death penalty system, it provides time for further review and reflection, and for the courts to continue examining the serious constitutional questions surrounding Alabama’s execution practices. We need not forget Jeffery Lee was sentenced by a jury of his peers to life in prison, not the death penalty. That decision was later over ridden by an elected official in a practice that was made illegal almost 10 years ago.
At the same time, our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson. Nothing about today’s decision diminishes the profound loss they have endured. Their grief remains real, and we continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers. Grief is hard and while we acknowledge that, it doesn’t need anyone’s acknowledgment to be real. We reject the false notion that more suffering brings healing. True justice must seek to honor victims and their families without creating new victims in the process. We understand that last night did not bring closure to the victims’ families, but had the execution proceeded, it would not have brought closure either. There is no closure when someone you love is gone. Healing is an inside job, it can not be given nor granted. The only place it can come from is within. The healing journey shouldn’t and doesn’t need to wait on an execution, and healing never ends this side of eternity. In all of our lives there are things we will never get over, we will just learn to get through them. This is true when we lose someone we love, no matter how we lose them. We honor and remember the victim’s and their families today and every day, and we never want to say or do anything that attempts to discount your story.
For years, Jeffery (J Love) has served as Secretary/Treasurer of PHADP. Those who know him understand that his life is defined not by the worst moment of his past, but by his unwavering faith in God, his commitment to serving others and his dedication to making Alabama’s death row—what many of us call “life row”—a better and more humane place for the men who live there. Jeffery’s life has become a testimony to the transformative power of faith and the human spirit. Through his ministry, leadership, and service, he has touched the lives of countless people both inside and outside prison walls, consistently pointing others toward hope, redemption and the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Throughout all, Jeffery has remained steadfast in his faith, continually giving glory to God and encouraging others to do the same. Even while facing the threat of execution, he has sought to be a source of hope, prayer, and encouragement to those around him. His example reminds us that every human being possesses the capacity for growth, redemption and service to others.
The men and women facing execution are not abstractions. They are husbands/wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, mentors, ministers, artists, students and friends. Every time Alabama carries out an execution, it extinguishes not only a life, but also all the good that person may yet bring into the lives of others. The death penalty as a whole asks us to believe two contradictory things at the same time: that people can change enough to become model prisoners, mentors, ministers, peacemakers and community leaders—and that none of that change matters. We reject that contradiction. Jeffery’s story invites a question that every person must answer for themselves: If God has not given up on a human being, should the State? If redemption remains possible, should execution remain the answer?
The existence of the death penalty requires society to appoint gatekeepers—prosecutors who decide when to seek death, judges who make critical rulings, juries who weigh life and death, governors who decide whether to grant mercy, and appellate courts that review the process. Every one of these decision-makers is human, and every human being is fallible. They bring with them their own limitations, assumptions, biases, political pressures and capacity for error. The question is not whether mistakes can happen; history has shown repeatedly that they do. The question is whether any government should possess the power to carry out an irreversible punishment when its decisions depend entirely upon imperfect human judgment. A justice system can correct many mistakes, but it cannot restore a life once it has been taken. If we cannot create a system without human error, we should not maintain a punishment without human remedy.
We also extend our deepest appreciation to the attorneys, advocates, faith leaders, journalists, organizers, and ordinary citizens who raised their voices on behalf of mercy, fairness and human dignity. J Love’s team worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure that critical legal and moral questions received the attention they deserved. We also recognize the courage of those on Alabama’s life row who continue to support one another through unimaginable circumstances. In a system designed to isolate and dehumanize, they continue to demonstrate compassion, resilience, and hope.
This stay is not the end of the struggle. Alabama continues to pursue executions and serious concerns remain regarding the state’s use of the death penalty, its history of judicial overrides and its experimental use of nitrogen gas. Today’s decision serves as a reminder that vigilance, advocacy and public engagement remain essential. Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty remains committed to a future where justice is rooted not in execution, but in accountability, healing, dignity and hope.
The Board of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty
