Entries tagged with “Ramirez v. Collier”
Facts & Research
Religion
,United States Supreme Court
,Nov 10, 2021
A Divided Supreme Court Appears Troubled by Texas Death Penalty Religious Freedom Case
The United States Supreme Court heard argument November 9, 2021 to review Texas death-row prisoner John Henry Ramirez’s claim that the state’s refusal to allow his pastor to “lay hands” on him or pray audibly during his execution violates the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and his First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The Court appeared troubled by Ramirez’s religious freedom claims,…
Facts & Research
Religion
,United States Supreme Court
,Nov 15, 2021
Discussions With DPIC Podcast: The Becket Fund’s Daniel Chen on the Exercise of Religion in the Execution Chamber
In the November 2021 episode of Discussions with DPIC, Daniel Chen, counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, speaks with DPIC Executive Director Robert Dunham about the Supreme Court case Ramirez v. Collier and death-row prisoners’ rights to religious freedom. John Ramirez has challenged Texas’ restrictions on audible prayer and physical touch by his spiritual advisor during his execution. Allowing such pastoral comfort in the execution chamber, Chen says, is about…
Facts & Research
Clemency
,Religion
,Apr 05, 2022
Oldest Texas Death-Row Prisoner Files Petition for Clemency Citing Time on Death Row, False Prediction that He Would be Dangerous in Prison
Texas’ oldest death-row prisoner, Carl Wayne Buntion (pictured), has filed a petition with the state Board of Pardons and Parole seeking commutation of his death sentence to life without parole. Buntion is currently scheduled to be executed on April 21,…
Facts & Research
Religion
,United States Supreme Court
,Mar 25, 2022
Supreme Court Rules that Texas Must Allow Death-Row Prisoner’s Pastor to Touch and Pray Over Him During His Execution
On March 24, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed lower court orders that had denied a Texas death-row prisoner’s request for his pastor to touch him and audibly pray during his execution. In ruling for John Henry Ramirez (pictured), the Court emphasized Texas’ ability to prevent any delay of his execution by simply creating reasonable procedures to allow Ramirez the accommodations he seeks. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion of the…