A House bill could alter Oklahoma’s criminal justice system by preventing convicted individuals from seeking commutation. HB 3903 — written by Okla. Rep. John Pfeiffer (R-District 38) ― states that the Pardon and Parole Board wouldn’t be able to recommend to the Governor anyone who was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or…Read More
The board voted 3-1 in favor of granting clemency for Jones, who has been on death row for more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. One board member recused themselves from the vote. Along with clemency, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended commuting Jones’ death sentence to life…Read More
Oklahoma’s new attorney general wants the chairman and another member of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board banned from two upcoming clemency hearings on bias grounds. Attorney General John O’Connor is asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to order the two to disqualify themselves. A clemency hearing for high-profile death row inmate Julius Jones is scheduled for Tuesday.…Read More
Attorneys for a prominent death row inmate are pushing back on the Oklahoma attorney general’s request that an execution date be set for Oct. 28. Julius Jones’ legal team filed a motion Friday asking the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to disregard the request from Attorney General John O’Connor, who asked this week that execution dates…Read More
An investigator for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board wrote in her report under “Investigator recommendation” that death prisoner Julius Jones be granted life in prison, either with or without the possibility of parole. Jones, 41, has spent two decades on death row for the 1999 killing of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. Jones has maintained…Read More
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor has requested an execution date for Julius Jones. According to the AG’s office, they’ve requested October 28th be Jones’s execution date. Advocates for Julius Jones say this request undermines public faith in the justice process. Jones is currently scheduled to have a commutation hearing on September 13th. “It is shocking–…Read More
A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma who supports the death penalty is seeking an independent investigation into the conviction of a death row inmate. State Rep. Kevin McDugle says he believes new evidence suggests the now 58-year-old Richard Glossip may be innocent. McDugle says several of his GOP colleagues have agreed to sign on to the…Read More
Monday all eyes will be on the Pardon and Parole Board as they consider Julius Jones commutation application. He sits on death row for the 1999 murder of an Edmond businessman Paul Howell. News 9 was told this process is a first in the state for a death row inmate, and this case has been…Read More
The Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday to recommend commutation for another 149 nonviolent drug offenders who were eligible for a single-stage docket made possible by a recent law change, board Executive Director Steven Bickley said. The cases now go to Gov. Kevin Stitt for consideration. House Bill 1269, which took effect Nov. 1, directed…Read More
The Pardon and Parole Board voted Friday to recommend 527 inmates for commutation, setting the stage for Monday’s mass release. The governor signed off on all but three of the recommendations because of a last-minute victim’s protest and a couple of last-minute reports of misconduct, officials said. Not all of the inmates granted commutation were…Read More