Oklahoma’s new attorney general has made big decisions about executions, saying the state is putting people to death too soon. In a petition to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the AG said the state needed to reassess and reset its current execution schedule. It was the first execution since the newly elected Drummond took office. He attended the executions, and now in his first major move as Oklahoma’s chief law enforcement officer, Drummond wants to postpone his next seven impending executions. . Currently, executions are scheduled at 30-day intervals, but Drummond hopes to extend that to 60 days. “It has placed an undue burden on the DOC and its personnel. A reassessment of the current execution schedule is required to maintain confidence in the system and to maintain this solemn and important process. The next seven death row inmates will get more time.” We are pleased with the announcement from AG Drummond,” said Don Heath of the Oklahoma Coalition for the Abolition of Death Penalty, Drummond said in a statement. said the decision was not taken lightly and that he had consulted with the victim’s family to explain his demands. The above ly applies to the next seven of his inmates who are sentenced to death. Drummond said execution schedules for other inmates will be addressed later.
Oklahoma’s new attorney general has made big decisions about executions, saying the state is executing people too soon.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a motion Wednesday requesting more time between the next seven scheduled executions. The state said it needed to reassess and reset its current enforcement schedule.
It’s been less than a week since Oklahoma murdered Scott Eisenber. This was the first execution since the newly elected Drummond took office.
He was present at the executions, but now, in one of his first major moves as Oklahoma’s chief law enforcement officer, Drummond wants to postpone the next seven imminent executions. Executions are scheduled at 30-day intervals, but Drummond wants to extend that to 60 days.
In the motion, he said, “One aspect that has become apparent over time is that the current pace of executions is unsustainable in the long term because it places an undue burden on the DOC and its staff.” A reassessment of the current execution schedule is needed to maintain confidence in the system and to sustain this solemn and important process.”
If allowed, the next seven death row inmates could get more time.
“We are pleased with the announcement from AG Drummond,” said Don Heath of the Oklahoma Abolitionist Coalition.
Heath said he hopes Drummond will be more lenient in hearing death row cases for amnesty.
“They will still be in prison for the rest of their lives, but the state will not be in the business of killing people,” Heath said.
In a statement, Drummond said the decision was not taken lightly and explained his request after consulting with the victim’s family.
This decision applies only to the next seven inmates facing the death penalty. Drummond said execution schedules for other inmates will be addressed later.
