Im watching the clemency hearing of Bigler Stouffer. Right now they're discussing, paraphrasing here, the morality of executing people using Oklahoma's current lethal injection protocol.
Both Larry Morris and Scott Williams are questioning whether it's even right to execute people given how John Grant's execution went and given that there is a federal trial about the protocol and its constitutionality scheduled for Feb
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that they've discussed it so explicitly. Richard Smothermon, former DA, is arguing now that their role is only to decide on the facts, not the morality, not their personal beliefs on the DP and how Oklahoma administers it
Kelly Doyle said she disagrees with Smothermon. Says they're all individuals and were appointed as individuals.
Now Doyle, visibly frustrated. says she feels like she has to take personal feelings into consideration, because, referencing recusal motions and lawsuit threats and grand juries, that they are "silenced" if they speak out personally.
Larry Morris: My Q is not whether the board takes a stance on the DP ... my Q is, we are being asked to participate in a process, given last 4 executions, that process is obviously flawed.
"We've had people on a table suffering for 30 minutes, i dont think any humane society ought to be executing people that way until we figure out how to do it right"
"The word justice gets thrown around. for some justice is an eye for an eye, for others, justice is mercy and grace."
Morris: "Are we gonna put another guy on the table and let him suffer for 30 minutes?" Morris mentioned how the board has recommended clemency once and recommended death once "So you cant say we lean one way or the other"
Smothermon: "So we recommend clemency every time until the state figures it out? what does that do for victims? Good gosh." He appears to be contemplating the full scope of their role in this process.
The vote
Doyle: I believe Mr. Stouffer is guilty. Very clear to me he committed this crime. With that said, he's 79. I believe he can be in prison for rest of life w/o danger to society. For mercy, im yes for clemency.
Doyle: I believe Mr. Stouffer is guilty. Very clear to me he committed this crime. With that said, he's 79. I believe he can be in prison for rest of life w/o danger to society. For mercy, im yes for clemency.
Luck: I also believe he's guilty. My regret is that my vote will cause pain, please believe i'm sorry. (Luck is deciding vote) My vote is yes for clemency.
Morris: Yes to clemency
Smothermon: I agree with Doyle. No doubt in my mind he committed this crime. His defenses are weak. This board is intelligent, caring, studious. We have dif views. that's healthy. I find not much in the mercy dept, so my vote is no.
Williams: I do have questions about process and what I'm sending someone to (in the death chamber.) I feel Stouffer is guilty. (Lengthy pause) I'm no to clemency
They've recommended clemency to Life Without Possibility of parole.
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