Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 6.19.24
Governor Ivey set 7.18.24 as the execution date by lethal injection for Keith Edmund Gavin. Gavin’s attorney had asked the court not to authorize the execution, arguing the state was moving Gavin to the “front of the line” ahead of other inmates who had exhausted their appeals. Talking Points are at: https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-keith-edmund-gavin-7-18-24/ and most importantly, please sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-keith-gavin-in-alabama
Governor Ivey set 9.26.24 as the execution date for Alan Eugene Miller, who survived a 2022 lethal injection attempt. His attorneys have asked the federal judge to block the execution from going forward, seeking to bar the use of nitrogen hypoxia as the method of execution claiming it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution. Talking Points are at: https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-alan-eugene-miller-9-26-24/ and most importantly please sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-alan-miller-in-alabama
The attorney general’s office asked the Alabama Supreme Court to authorize an execution date for Carey Dale Grayson using nitrogen hypoxia. “It is disappointing that the State wants to schedule a third nitrogen hypoxia execution before the question of whether the first one tortured Kenneth Smith has been resolved,” John Palombi, an attorney with the Federal Defenders Program wrote in an email.
The Alabama People of Faith Death Penalty Coalition which has been meeting since early last summer under the leadership of Sam Heath of EJUSA sent out an invitation to those who are not already part of this group to join us on Zoom on Thursday, August 29 at 10:00 a.m. central. We look forward to expanding our reach and definitely need your help!
We discussed the Death Penalty Information Center’s article “By Reversing Grants of Relief, Supreme Court Signals Lower Courts to Apply Stricter Approach to Review of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims”. It was especially relevant as this just happened to Marcus Williams in Alabama.
Our thanks and appreciation to Beth Shelburne for “Father’s Day on Death Row” highlighting Toforest Johnson an innocent father on death row, yet nevertheless very present to his family.
And in USATODAY “Comforting the condemned: Inside the execution chamber with reverend focused on humanity.” Yes, Rev. Jeff Hood!
We thank all who are working so hard and diligently to stop all killing in Alabama! And as always in closing, we thank all our generous donors who either gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button or who gave directly. Thank you also to all who took the time to read our notes, commented, liked and shared them on Facebook. Stay safe and be kind to each other!
Esther