Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf made a bold decision to grant a temporary reprieve to inmate Terrance Williams, who was scheduled to be executed on March 4. The governor vowed to grant other reprieves, in effect declaring a moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania. Williams would have been t
Mr. Michael Ballard had been scheduled for execution on December 2, but a judge has granted him a stay. While Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano declared Michael Ballard competent to make the decision to stop appealing his death sentence, Judge Giordano also granted Mr. Ballard’s
In September, Hubert Michael was two weeks from his execution date when he received a reprieve from Governor Corbett. However, this temporary mercy was only granted because the lethal drugs to complete the execution were not available. Governor Corbett has indicated he would re-sched
Governor Corbett has signed an execution warrant for Hubert L. Michael, Jr., who is now scheduled to be executed on September 22, 2014. The Board of Pardons is able to reduce the sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and Governor Tom Corbett is able to grant
In the last four months, three men were scheduled to be executed – Terrance Williams, Hubert Michael and Mark Spotz. Last minute appeals delayed those cases, which are now pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and a federal appeals court. Decisions will be made about the
Hundreds of you have sent emails to the PA Board of Pardons and the Governor about the death penalty in recent months. You can send another message here. Here is an update on the pending capital cases: 1) Terrance Williams: On September 28, 2012, Common Pleas Court Judge Sarmi
A Common Pleas Court judge today issued a stay of execution for Terrance Williams. The Philadelphia District Attorney has appealed this decision. If this order stands, Mr. Williams will have a resentencing hearing. Stay tuned for more updates. Williams would have been the first execu
Two hundred and five Pennsylvanians currently sit on death row. In Pennsylvania, even though hundreds of people have been sentenced to death, only three people – those who waived their right to appeal – have been executed since 1978 (the year the General Assembly reinstated the death