News & Developments
Innocence
Feb 03, 2023
POSSIBLE INNOCENCE: New Evidence Regarding Missouri Man Facing Execution
Leonard Taylor (pictured) is a Missouri death-row prisoner who was convicted in 2008 of a quadruple murder that occurred in St. Louis in December 2004. His execution is scheduled for February 7, 2023. Taylor has consistently maintained his innocen…
Human Rights
Feb 02, 2023
California Supreme Court Grants New Trial in 30-Year-Old Death Penalty Case
The California Supreme Court granted Nvwtohiyada Idehesdi Sequoyah (tried as and referred to in court documents as Billy Ray Waldon) a new trial on January 23, 2023 after overturning his 1992 death sentence and conviction. Sequoyah was permitte…
Federal Death Penalty
Feb 02, 2023
Penalty Phase Scheduled to Begin in Federal Capital Trial of Sayfullo Saipov
Sayfullo Saipov (pictured) was found guilty in federal court on January 26, 2023 of killing eight people on a New York City bike path in 2017 by driving a truck into a crowd of people. He will now likely be the first person to face a federal capit…
Human Rights
Feb 01, 2023
Texas Death Row Prisoner Commits Suicide
On January 21, 2023, Texas death row prisoner Terence Andrus hanged himself at the age of 34, a little more than 6 months after the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of his case for a second time. His lawyer,Gretchen Sween, told the Los Angeles…
Jan 31, 2023
Robert Dunham to Leave Death Penalty Information Center After 8 Years as Executive Director, Board Names Richard Dieter as Interim Director
Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Robert Dunham will be leaving DPIC after eight years at its helm. He will be replaced on interim basis by former Executive Director Richard Dieter
Innocence
Jan 30, 2023
Attorneys for Kevin Cooper Respond to Special Counsel Report
Kevin Cooper (pictured) is a death-row prisoner in California who was convicted of murdering four people in 1985. He has maintained his innocence of the offense. On January 13, 2023, a special counsel appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to conduct …
Innocence
Jan 27, 2023
Oklahoma Attorney General Appoints Special Counsel to Conduct ‘Thorough Review’ of Richard Glossip’s Case
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has appointed a special counsel to conduct a ‘thorough review’ of the case of death-row prisoner Richard Glossip, who has faced nine execution dates despite strong evide…
Victims' Families
Jan 26, 2023
Family Members of Murder Victims Call on North Carolina, Nevada to Commute States’ Death Rows
In North Carolina and Nevada, family members of murder victims are speaking out against the death penalty, encouraging officials in both states to commute their death row. At a press conference (pictured) outside the North Carolina gove…
Representation
Jan 25, 2023
Alabama Court Removes Key Appeal Protection for Death Sentenced Defendants
The Alabama Supreme Court announced a change to its rules of appellate procedure on January 12, 2023, eliminating automatic plain error review for trial errors in death penalty cases. This new rule removes a significant safeguard for capital defen…
Upcoming Executions
Jan 24, 2023
Oklahoma Court Grants Attorney General’s Motion to Slow State’s Execution Spree
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) has reset the state’s execution schedule, slowing down the pace at which the 25-person execution spree it authorized in July 2022 would move forward. The order, issued January…