Executions and Stays 2017

83 execution dates were scheduled in 12 states.
23 executions were carried out in 8 states.
40 executions were stayed by courts.
3 executions were halted by reprieves by governors.
1 execution was halted by commutation.
1 failed execution was halted when execution personnel were unable to set an IV line.
15 executions were rescheduled.

Background on Arkansas April 2017 Executions

Date of Scheduled ExecutionStatePrisonerOutcome
January
11OHAnthony KirklandStay granted by Ohio Supreme Court on October 16, 2014 “pending disposition of available state remedies …. It is further ordered that this stay shall remain in effect until exhaustion of all state post-conviction proceedings, including any appeals.”
11TXChristopher WilkinsExecuted.
12OHJames HannaReprieve granted by Gov. John Kasich because Ohio did not have execution drugs.^^
12OHRonald PhillipsStay granted by magistrate judge in U.S. District Court on December 19, 2016 to permit litigation of challenge to Ohio lethal injection protocol; on December 21, 2016, Gov. John Kasich then rescheduled execution for February 15, 2017.
18VARicky Jovan GrayExecuted.
23ORGary HaugenReprieve in place. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber imposed a moratorium on all executions in Oregon, which Gov. Kate Brown kept in place. Gov. Brown has requested a report on the status of the death penalty and indicated the report will inform future policy decisions.
25TXKosoul ChanthakoummaneDate rescheduled to July 19, 2017.
26TXTerry Darnell EdwardsExecuted.
31MOMark ChristesonExecuted.
January 20179 executions scheduled in 4 states4 executions; 2 executions halted by stays of execution; 2 executions halted by reprieves; 1 execution rescheduled
February
2TXJohn RamirezStay granted by U.S. District Court on January 31, 2017 to permit new counsel to file a petition seeking clemency for Ramirez. On February 1, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied the Texas Attorney General’s motion to vacate the District Court’s stay order.
7TXTilon Lashon CarterStay granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on February 3, 2017 on a 5-4 vote. The Court ruled that Texas had failed to timely serve the death warrant upon the Texas Office of Capital and Forensic Writs.
15OHRonald PhillipsStay granted by U.S. District Court magistrate judge on January 26, 2017 as part of preliminary injunction order declaring Ohio’s execution protocol unconstitutional. Then rescheduled for May 10, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
19OHRaymond TibbettsStay granted by magistrate judge in U.S. District Court on December 19, 2016 to permit litigation of challenge to Ohio lethal injection protocol; on December 21, 2016, Gov. John Kasich then rescheduled execution for April 12, 2017.
February 20174 executions scheduled in 2 states4 executions halted by stays of execution
March
2PAWayne SmithLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted January 25, 2017 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to permit Smith to pursue state and federal post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
3PARichard PoplawskiLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted February 17, 2017 by the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to permit Poplawski to pursue state post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
4PAAric WoodardLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted February 9, 2017 by the York County Court of Common Pleas to permit Woodard to pursue state post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
6PAPatrick HaneyLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted February 8, 2017 by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to permit Haney to pursue state and federal post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
7TXRolando RuizExecuted.
14TXJames BigbyExecuted.
15OHGary OtteStay granted by U.S. District Court magistrate judge on January 26, 2017 as part of preliminary injunction order declaring Ohio’s execution protocol unconstitutional. Then rescheduled for June 13, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
22OHJeremiah JacksonStay granted by Ohio Supreme Court until exhaustion of all state post-conviction proceedings.
March 20178 executions scheduled in 3 states2 executions; 6 executions halted by stays of execution
April
12OHRaymond TibbettsStay granted by U.S. District Court magistrate judge on January 26, 2017 as part of preliminary injunction order declaring Ohio’s execution protocol unconstitutional. Then rescheduled for July 26, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
12TXPaul StoreyStay granted by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to permit Storey to litigate several claims that prosecutors violated his right to due process by presenting false evidence and suppressing mitigating evidence in his case.
17ARBruce WardStay granted on April 14 by the Arkansas Supreme Court to permit counsel to litigate whether Ward is mentally competent to be executed. Temporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.
17ARDon DavisTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Stay granted by the Arkansas Supreme Court on April 17 pending decision by the United States Supreme Court in McWilliams v. Dunn on questions concerning the right to an independent mental health expert that may affect the resolution of similar issues in Davis’s case.
17OHGlen BatesPremature death warrant. Stay granted by the Ohio Supreme Court on January 13, 2017 to permit Bates to pursue his right to a direct appeal of his conviction and death sentence.
20ARStacey JohnsonTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Stay issued April 19 by Arkansas Supreme Court to allow hearing on postconviction DNA testing.
20ARLedell LeeTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Temporary restraining order granted on April 19 by 6th Judicial Court to prevent use of vecuronium bromide in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Executed.
21SCBobby Wayne StoneLegally premature death warrant. 90-day stay of execution granted on April 10, 2017 by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina to permit the court to consider Stone’s motion to appoint counsel to represent him in habeas corpus proceedings to which he was entitled to review as a matter of federal law.
24ARJack JonesTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Temporary restraining order granted on April 19 by 6th Judicial Court to prevent use of vecuronium bromide in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Executed.
24ARMarcel WilliamsTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Temporary restraining order granted on April 19 by 6th Judicial Court to prevent use of vecuronium bromide in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Executed.
25VAIvan TeleguzDeath sentence commuted by Gov. Terry McAuliffe on April 20, 2017 to life in prison, with no chance of parole.
27ARKenneth WilliamsTemporary restraining order granted on April 14 by Pulaski County court in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company barring Arkansas from using vecuronium bromide in scheduled execution. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.
Temporary restraining order granted on April 19 by 6th Judicial Court to prevent use of vecuronium bromide in litigation brought by pharmaceutical company. Restraining order lifted by Arkansas Supreme Court.

Executed.
27ARJason McGeheePreliminary inunction granted by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas staying McGehee’s execution until Arkansas Parole Board complies with 30-day period for public comment on its 6-1 recommendation for clemency and Gov. Asa Hutchinson decides whether to issue clemency.
April 201713 executions scheduled in 5 states4 executions; 8 executions halted by stays of execution; 1 execution halted by commutation
May
10OHAlva Campbell, Jr.Rescheduled for September 13, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
10OHRonald R. PhillipsRescheduled for July 26, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
16TXTilon CarterStay granted on May 12 by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to permit the court to consider claim that new evidence shows that Carter’s conviction was a product of scientifically erroneous and false forensic testimony that the victim had been smothered.
17OHDonald KettererStay granted by Ohio Supreme Court until exhaustion of all state post-conviction proceedings.
17GAJ.W. Ledford Jr.Executed
24TXJuan CastilloRescheduled for September 7, 2017.
26ALThomas ArthurExecuted. Scheduled for May 25, 2017, a temporary stay of execution was granted by Circuit Justice Clarence Thomas so U.S. Supreme Court could consider petitions concerning denial of access to counsel during the execution and to records related to the execution of Ronald Smith. After Court denied certiorari on these claims, Alabama began the execution at 11:45 p.m., just prior to the state-law mandated midnight expiration of its death warrant. Athur was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m. om May 26.
May 20177 executions scheduled in 4 states2 executions; 2 executions halted by stays of execution; 3 executions rescheduled
June
8ALRobert MelsonStay granted on June 2, 2017 by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to permit the court to consider a joint appeal by five Alabama death-row prisoners of a district court order denying their challenge to Alabama’s execution protocol. Briefing in that appeal will not be complete until June 28, 20 days after the execution date. The court said deciding the issue for Melson while he is under warrant “would, in effect, telegraph the outcome of Melson’s coappellants’ appeals, and that would be untenable.”

On June 6, 2017 the stay was vacated by the United States Supreme Court.

Executed.
13OHWilliam MontgomeryRescheduled for October 18, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
13OHGary OtteRescheduled for September 13, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
28TXSteven LongRescheduled for August 30, 2017
June 20174 executions scheduled in 3 states1 execution; 3 executions rescheduled
July
6VAWilliam Charles MorvaExecuted
19OHMark PickensStay granted by Ohio Supreme Court until exhaustion of all state post-conviction proceedings.
19TXKosoul ChanthakoummaneStay granted by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on June 7, 2017, to review claims of discredited forensic science.
20OHMichael MadisonPremature death warrant. Stay granted by the Ohio Supreme Court on May 16, 2017 to permit Madison to pursue his right to a direct appeal of his conviction and death sentence.
26OHRobert Van HookRescheduled for November 15, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
26OHRaymond TibbettsRescheduled for October 18, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
26OHRonald R. PhillipsExecuted
27TXTaiChin PreyorExecuted
July 20178 executions scheduled in 3 states3 executions; 3 executions halted by stays of execution; 2 executions rescheduled
August
15PAOmar Shariff CashLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted June 28, 2017 by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to permit Cash to pursue state and federal post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
22MOMarcellus WilliamsGubernatorial stay (reprieve) granted by Governor Eric Greitens on August 22, 2017. The Governor appointed a Gubernatorial Board of Inquiry to further consider Marcellus Williams’ request for executive clemency.
24FLMark AsayExecuted
30TXSteven LongStay granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on August 21, 2017 to permit Long to re-litigate his claim of intellectual disability under Moore v. Texas. The Texas courts had previously denied his claim, applying the “Briseno factors” that were declared unconstitutional in Moore
August 20174 executions scheduled in 4 states1 executions; 2 executions halted by judicial stays of execution; 1 execution halted by reprieve
September
7TXJuan CastilloStay granted by the Bexar County District Court on August 30, 2017 in response to the Bexar County District Attorney’s motion to withdraw Juan Castillo’s execution date. The request was made after Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster for 30 Texas counties because of Hurricane Harvey. The court also issued an order setting a new execution date for December 14, 2017.
13OHJeffrey A. WogenstahlStay granted by Ohio Supreme Court May 4, 2016 on motion to vacate execution date and to reopen direct appeal. Rescheduled for April 17, 2019 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
13OHAlva Campbell, Jr.Rescheduled for November 15, 2017 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
13OHGary OtteExecuted
26GAKeith TharpeStay granted by the U.S. Supreme Court on September 26, 2017 “pending the disposition of [Tharpe’s] petition for a writ of certiorari” seeking review of a decision by the 11th Circuit denying him an appeal of his habeas corpus claim that his death sentence was unconstitutionally tainted by the participation of a racially biased juror.
September 20175 executions scheduled in 3 states1 execution; 3 executions halted by stays of execution; 1 execution rescheduled
October
5ALJeffrey BordenInjunction granted under the All Writs Act by U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on September 29 staying Borden’s execution through October 29, 2017 to permit ongoing civil rights challenge to Alabama’s execution protocol. Injunction vacated by U.S. Supreme Court, with 3 justices dissenting, on October 4. Stay granted by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on October 5 after finding a “substantial likelihood of success” on the merits of the civil rights challenge.
5FLMichael LambrixExecuted
12TXRobert PruettExecuted
16NVScott Raymond DozierRescheduled for week of November 13 by Clark County District Court.
18OHMelvin BonnellRescheduled for April 11, 2018 by Gov. John Kasich on February 10, 2017.*
18OHWilliam MontgomeryRescheduled for January 3, 2018 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
18OHRaymond TibbettsRescheduled for February 13, 2018 by Gov. John Kasich on September 1, 2017.^
18TXAnthony Shore90-day stay of execution granted by Harris County trial court to permit prosecutors to investigate claim that Shore was colluding with another death-row prisoner to confess to the murder in that case. Execution rescheduled for January 18, 2018.
19ALTorrey McNabbU.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on September 29, 2017 denied motion for stay of execution for technical reasons, without prejudice to his first seeking an injunction against his execution in the District Court. The Circuit Court order set forth the factors the District Court must consider and indicated that McNabb would be entitled to a stay.

Executed
26TXClinton Lee YoungStay granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on October 18, 2017 and evidentiary hearing ordered on Young’s claim that newly discovered evidence (gunshot residue on the gloves of the prosecution’s key witness and affidavits of four prisoners that this witness had bragged about committing the killing and framing Young) shows that his conviction and sentence were obtained with false or perjured testimony.
October 201710 executions scheduled in 5 states3 executions; 3 executions halted by stays of execution; 4 executions rescheduled
November
8FLPatrick C. HannonExecuted
8TXRuben Cardenas RamirezViolation of Vienna Convention right to consular notification. In 2004, the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued “precautionary measures” against executing Cardenas without a judicial determination of the impact of the Vienna Convention violation in his case and in 2008 determined that Cardenas was entitled to a new trial. He has received no review of his treaty claim in the Texas state or federal courts.

Executed
9ARJack GreeneStay granted by the Arkansas Supreme Court on November 7, 2017 on petition raising issue related to Arkansas procedures for determining competency to be executed.
14NVScott Raymond DozierStay granted by the Clark County District Court on November 9, 2017 to permit the prosecution to appeal its ruling barring the use of a paralytic drug in Nevada’s execution protocol.
15OHRobert Van HookRescheduled for February 13, 2018 by Gov. John Kasich on May 1, 2017.**
15OHAlva Campbell, Jr.Reprieve issued by Gov. John Kasich on November 15, 2017 after personnel of the Ohio Department of Corrections failed four times to find a suitable vein to insert an intravenous execution line.
16TXLarry SwearingenStay granted on October 27, 2017 by trial court because of clerk’s error in serving notice of execution.
17PAJunius BurnoLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on October 2, 2017 to permit Burno to pursue state and federal post-conviction challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
November 20178 executions scheduled in 6 states2 executions; 4 executions halted by stays of execution; 1 failed execution halted by reprieve; 1 execution rescheduled
December
1SCBobby Wayne StoneLegally premature death warrant. The death warrant was issued before Stone had been provided habeas corpus review to which he is entitled as a matter of federal law. Stay granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on November 21, 2017 to permit Stone to pursue federal habeas review of his conviction and death sentence.
14TXJuan CastilloStay granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on November 28, 2017 and case remanded to the Bexar County District Court for resolution of Castillo’s claim that his conviction and sentence were obtained with false or perjured testimony from a prison informant.
29PAMichael PruittLegally premature death warrant. Stay granted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on December 4, 2017 to permit Pruitt to pursue federal habeas corpus challenges to his conviction and sentence that are available to all criminal defendants.
December 20173 executions scheduled in 3 states3 executions halted by stays of execution

* On February 10, 2017 Governor John R. Kasich issued a statement revising the schedule for eight upcoming executions. This revised schedule was in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s denial of a motion to stay enforcement, pending appeal, of a federal magistrate judge’s order declaring Ohio’s execution procedures unconstitutional.

** On May 1, 2017 Governor Kasich issued another statement revising the schedule for nine upcoming executions. This revised schedule was in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s order setting a briefing schedule for the Court’s en banc rehearing of the state’s appeal of a federal magistrate judge’s order issuing a preliminary injunction barring Ohio from carrying out 3-drug executions using midazolam or any execution using a paralytic agent or potassium chloride.

^ On September 1, 2017, Ohio’s Governor Kasich issued a statement and an updated execution schedule, which changed the execution dates for 19 of 26 condemned prisoners who had scheduled dates between September 2017 and September 2020. The execution schedule for these 26 prisoners now extends through April 2022.

^^ On October 19, 2015 the Ohio Department of Corrections issued a statement that Governor Kasich granted reprieves postponing all executions that the state had scheduled in 2016. Ohio has been unable to obtain the execution drugs required to conduct executions under state law. All execution dates have been rescheduled by the state.

“Volunteer” refers to prisoners who have voluntarily waived their normal appeals (not necessarily that they have volunteered for execution).

2017 Death Warrant Outcomes Nationally, by Month
MonthScheduled ExecutionsExecutionsStayed by CourtsCommutationsReprievesFailed ExecutionsExecution Date Rescheduled
January9420201
February4040000
March8260000
April13481000
May7220003
June4100003
July8330002
August4120100
September5130001
October10330004
November8240011
December3030000
Total83234013115
2017 Death Warrant Outcomes by State
StateScheduled ExecutionsExecutionsStayed by CourtsCommutationsReprievesFailed ExecutionsExecution Date Rescheduled
Ohio2721201111
Texas217110003
Arkansas9450000
Pennsylvania7070000
Alabama4310000
Florida3300000
Virginia3201000
Georgia2110000
Missouri2100100
South Carolina2020000
Nevada2010001
Oregon1000100
TOTALS83234013115