Stays of Execution in 2011

January

11

TN

Edmund Zagorski

TN Sup. Ct. stayed execution to allow attorneys time to respond to new lethal injection procedures.

11

TX

Cleve Foster

U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution without explanation. UPDATE: Executed on Sept. 25, 2012

12

MO

Richard Clay

MO Governor Jay Nixon commuted sentence to life without parole after supporters presented evidence of possible innocence.

14

OK

Ricky Ray Malone

OK Ct of Criminal Appeals stayed execution after a Comanche County judge sentenced Malone to death following a non-jury trial.

31

MT

Ronald Smith

Judge Jeffrey Sherlock granted Smith a stay of execution so his civil lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of lethal injection could be decided.

February

9

GA

Roy Blankenship

Stayed to review DNA evidence UPDATE: see June 23

15

TN

Edward Harbison

TN Sup. Ct. stayed execution to allow attorneys time to respond to new lethal injection procedures. Update - Gov. Bredesen commuted sentence to life in prison without parole to bring sentence in line with others in the state.

April

5

AZ

Daniel Cook

Execution stayed by U.S. Supreme Court after his lawyers presented a petition arguing Cook did not have effective legal representation during his trial or appeals process. The stay may be temporary.

5

TX

Cleve Foster

Stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow consideration of a request for a rehearing regarding ineffectiveness of counsel. Update - stay has been lifted, execution set for Sept. 20, 2011. UPDATE: Executed on Sept. 25, 2012

6

IN

Wayne Kubsch

Stayed by U.S. federal judge to allow Kubsch to file a habeas corpus petition.

May

24

MS

Robert Simon Jr.

Stayed by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, but no immediate reason was given for its decision. (Simon’s lawyers had raised claims about his mental competency.)

25

AZ

Don Beaty

The Arizona Supreme Court issued the stay in order to give Beaty time to review the changes of a lethal injection drug in the execution procedure. Update - Beaty was executed on May 25.

June

14

NE

Carey Moore

Stayed by the Nebraska Supreme Court due to objections that the sodium thiopental that Nebraska purchased from a Mumbai company fails to comply with U.S. pharmaceutical standards.

14

OH

Shawn Hawkins

OH Governor John Kasich commuted sentence to life without parole because the precise details of Hawkin’s role in the crime were unclear.

15

TX

John Balentine

Stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow for review of a petition regarding ineffective assistance of counsel during Balentine’s state appeal.

16

VA

Ricky Gray

Stayed by U.S. Federal Court to allow more time for an appeal.

22

AR

Frank Williams Jr.

Stayed by Arkansas Supreme Court due to two appeals involving constitutional issues regarding the death penalty are pending in the court.

23

GA

Roy Blankenship

Temporary stay granted by Superior Court Judge Wendy Shoob to consider a challenge to Georgia’s decision to adopt a new lethal injection drug. Update - stay has been lifted; executed

July

12

AR

Marcel Williams

Stayed by Arkansas Supreme Court due to challenges to the state’s execution protocol.

19

OH

Kenneth Smith

Stayed by U.S. District Court to review execution protocols in Ohio.

20

GA

Andrew DeYoung

Stayed by Georgia prison officials until July 21; no reason given, but a court has ordered that the execution be videotaped in connection with a challenge to the lethal injection process. Update: DeYoung was executed on 7/21/11.

26

AR

Jason McGehee

Stayed by Arkansas Supreme Court due to challenges to the state’s execution protocol.

29

DE

Robert Jackson III

Stayed by U.S. District Court to review changes to the drug used in executions. Update- stay has been lifted.

August

2

FL

Manuel Valle

Stayed until September 1st by the Florida Supreme Court to allow time to review state lethal injection procedure. Update - execution rescheduled for September 6.

16

AR

Bruce Ward

Stayed by Arkansas Supreme Court due to challenges to the state’s execution protocol.

16

OR

Gary Haugen

The Oregon Supreme Court stayed the execution until there’s more consideration of the inmate’s mental competence.

16

OH

Brett Hartmann

Stayed by Gov. Kasich, citing a federal judge’s ruling in another case that called the state’s procedures “haphazard.”

18

TX

Larry Swearingen

Stayed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to allow time to review forensic evidence.

23

TX

Randall Mays

Stayed for unknown reasons.

30

TX

Ivan Cantu

Stayed for unknown reasons.

September

6

FL

Manuel Valle

Stayed by federal court to consider whether Valle was denied a clemency hearing; UPDATE: Stay lifted; execution may occur Sept. 8. UPDATE: Executed on Sept. 28.

13

TN

Joel Schmeiderer

Stayed to allow for continuation of appeals.

15

TX

Duane Buck

Stayed by U.S. Supreme Court to allow further consideration of his claims. UPDATE: The Sup. Ct. denied cert., opening the possibility of a new execution date.

20

OH

Billy Slagle

Stayed by Gov. Kasich until Aug. 7, 2013 because of challenges to lethal injection process

20

TX

Cleve Foster

Stayed by U.S. Supreme Court. UPDATE: Executed on Sept. 25, 2012

27

TN

David Jordan

Stayed to allow for continuation of appeals.

October

4

TN

John Henretta

Stayed to allow for continuation of appeals.

5

GA

Marcus Johnson

Stayed by Superior Court Judge Willie Lockette to evaluate new DNA evidence.

18

OH

Joseph Murphy

Commuted to life in prison without parole by Gov. Kasich following the unanimous recommendation of clemency by the Ohio Parole Board.

25

TN

H.R. Hester

Stayed to allow for continuation of appeals.

November

9

TX

Henry Skinner

Stayed by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review request for DNA testing.

10

VA

Anthony Juniper

Stayed to allow further federal appeals.

December

6

OR

Gary Haugen

Gov. John Kitzhaber declared a moratorium on executions in Oregon on November 22.