AG Drummond Asks Supreme Court For Glossip’s Stay Of Execution

Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and save Richard Glossip's life -- less than 16 days from execution.

Tuesday, May 2nd 2023, 5:33 pm

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Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and save Richard Glossip's life -- less than 16 days from execution.

This is highly unusual in that both the state and Glossip's defense are now essentially on the same side- trying to stop this execution from going forward.

Richard Glossip remains on death row and for the fourth time has started taking steps to prepare for his execution.

“Honestly, he’s terrified. He’s absolutely terrified,” Glossip’s attorney Don Knight said. “He’s been down this road too many times.”

This time under circumstances both Glossip's attorney and the Oklahoma attorney general call unprecedented.

"The prospect of executing an individual based on a conviction that the prosecutor believes is constitutionally flawed is all but unthinkable," the state writes in its application to the U.S. Supreme Court to stay Glossip's execution.

“The highest law enforcement officer in the state of Oklahoma says it’s unthinkable to kill Richard Glossip with what the state now knows to be true,” says Knight. “That Richard Glossip didn’t receive a fair trial. I don’t know how much stronger the words could be.”

In addition, Glossip's attorneys have also filed a civil case in Oklahoma County District court claiming Glossip's right to due process was violated when only four members of the pardon and parole board voted on his case.

And Oklahoma Lawmakers led by Representative Kevin McDugle (R ) are attempting to pass a law that would mandate if AG asks for a conviction to be reversed, such as in the case of Glossip, the court of criminal appeals would have to grant it.

“It’s a .01 possibility but we have to try it right,” Rep. McDugle said Tuesday. “We have to talk leadership in both chambers into it and the Governor has to sign it.”

Glossip's attorney said he will be filing more appeals in the coming days as well as an injunction in Oklahoma County Court to stop the execution until that civil case can be heard.