Judge denies stay of execution request for group of Oklahoma death row inmates
OKLAHOMA CITY — A U.S. district judge denied a stay of execution for a group of Oklahoma death row inmates after their lawyers requested that their executions be delayed.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot heard arguments Monday about whether to delay the executions of five Oklahoma death row inmates – Julius Jones, Donald Grant, John Grant, Gilbert Postelle and Wade Lay. Friot denied the request, meaning the state can move forward with executing them.
The death row inmates' lawyers told KOCO 5 that they plan to file an emergency appeal Monday afternoon with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. If the 10th Circuit rules against them, they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
If no appeal is successful, Oklahoma will proceed with its first execution since 2015 on Thursday. John Grant, whom the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for in early October, will be put to death for the killing of an Oklahoma detention center officer.
John Grant has been on death row since 1998.
Jones has a clemency hearing on Tuesday after members of the Pardon and Parole Board recommended in September to commute his sentence. He was sentenced to death for the 1999 killing of Edmond businessman Paul Howell.
Gov. Kevin Stitt said he will not make a final decision on Jones' case until after the clemency hearing.
Jones' execution date is set for Nov. 18.
https://www.koco.com/article/judge-d...mates/38057946
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