Patrick B. McGuigan and Darla Shelden, The Metropolis Sentinel —
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma opponents of capital punishment assembled nearly to recommit themselves to the drive to finish state-sanctioned executions in Oklahoma early this month.
The annual assembly for the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Dying Penalty (OK-CADP) reworked into a web based gathering this yr.
Spotlight of the night was the presentation of awards to champions of the trigger.
Jimmy Lawson, Emma Rolls, Leslie Fitzhugh honored for work towards dying penalty
OK-CADPpresents their Abolitionists Awards every year honoring people who’ve demonstrated “extraordinary effort to finish the dying penalty in Oklahoma.”
The Phil Wahl Abolitionist of the 12 months Award is called for a Methodist minister from Duncan, a co-founder of OK-CADP, who was steadfast in his opposition to capital punishment.
Phil Wahl was described, within the phrases of federal public defender Dale Baich as “untiring” in his efforts. His work continues to encourage all of us.” Wahl lived to the age of 101.
Baich launched the Wahl Award winner as a person of “belief, assist and loyalty.”
These phrases, he mentioned, outline friendship.”
Baich mentioned, “Jimmy Lawson was born in Oklahoma Metropolis and attended John Marshall Excessive College, the place he excelled in teachers and athletics. He earned a Bachelor’s diploma and M.B.A. from Oklahoma Metropolis College. He held quite a few company positions and is an adjunct professor at Rose State School.
“When Jimmy’s greatest good friend Julius Jones was wrongfully convicted and ended up on Dying Row in Oklahoma, Jimmy didn’t abandon his good friend. [Their] bond remained and Jimmy by no means gave up preventing for Julius. His work sparked a motion to make clear the injustice in his good friend’s case and people efforts, together with the great work of the coalition, have introduced extra consideration to the inequities and injustices of the dying penalty in Oklahoma.
“For all he has finished, and all he’ll proceed to do, I’m honored to current the Phil Wahl Abolitionist of 12 months Award to Jimmy Lawson.”
Lawson was organizer of the historic July 31, 2018 rally on the Oklahoma State Capitol, which was attende by a big crowd of round 300 folks on a heat night. The occasion drew worldwide tv information and on-line protection, in addition to robust native evaluation.
Receiving the popularity, Lawson mentioned he devoted “this award to my late father Bishop Lawson Sr. A person who stood for love and justice. I’ve strived to face for the unvoiced and have anticipated nothing in return; besides to see my lifelong greatest good friend Julius Jones stroll out as a free man.”
Lawson praised the devotion and assist of his spouse and three daughters. He famous he and Julius Jones have been mates since their sixth grade yr.
He gave a particular “shout out” to Julius’ mother and father, “Mama Jones and Papa Jones, who deal with me like one other son.” He thanked the 2 Jones siblings, “Antoinette and Tony, who deal with me like one other brother.”
Along with his work as an adjunct professor at Rose State, he’s a working monetary advisor and seemingly tireless advocate. Lawson mirrored, “Our power isn’t weapons, not cash, however our voice. Our phrases can really change the sport.” He drew inspiration type the Gospel of St. John, in chapter 15, and the affirmation there may be “no higher love” than to put down your life for mates.
This system then superior to presentation of the Opio Toure Brave Advocate Award, a recognition named for the late State Rep. Opio Toure of Oklahoma Metropolis.
Randy Bauman, former supervisor of Oklahoma’s Federal Public Defender Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) praised the 2023 Toure Awardee, his successor at CHU, Emma Rolls.
In an environment friendly but detailed introduction, Bauman recalled her work earlier than the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals, when she offered two separate arguments in someday. He mirrored, “The attorneys within the room are already considering, ‘Rattling, wow, no surprise she’s getting the award.’”
Bauman continued, explaining for non-lawyers {that a} circuit argument “isn’t a speech. It’s a chance to get questioned, grilled, by a panel of three tenth Circuit judges on why reduction ought to be granted or denied.
“I say ‘alternative’ since you actually need an opportunity to reply any questions the judges have. However, as you may think about, it’s not simple – it’s difficult, to say the least. Every argument requires quite a lot of prep work, anticipating questions, and the beautiful grilling by your colleagues attempting that can assist you anticipate what would possibly come up – although it may be most something.”
He mirrored, “I don’t know precisely methods to describe 2 in someday as a result of I’ve by no means needed to do it. I don’t assume anybody ever has finished what Emma did, two capital arguments again to again. I’m guessing she was ‘involved.’ … And the outcomes are two reduction grants. It doesn’t get any higher.”
In a single case, “that of Roderick Smith, the dying penalty was dominated off the desk. That’s due to Rod Smith’s mental incapacity.”
As for the second case, Rolls “argued the declare that bought the shopper a remand for an evidentiary listening to.”
As chief of the habeas unit, Rolls has been doing a wonderful job main, guiding, serving to, the wonderful attorneys, investigators, and paralegals who type the final line of capital protection in Oklahoma. Emma is, nicely and really, a servant-leader. And that wonderful workforce, by the way in which, is doing nice work.”
Rolls was a research in each humility and effectivity of her personal, saying she shared the honour together with her predecessor, Mr. Bauman). She mirrored:
“Have been it not for Randy, I’m positive I’d not be accepting this award this night. I’m grateful for the chance he gave me when he employed me on the Capital Habeas Unit after which inspired me to tackle the supervisor place of the Unit. Subsequent, I’d prefer to thank the household of Opio Toure for persevering with to honor his legacy with this award. I’d additionally prefer to thank the members of the Coalition who battle with us to offer a voice to the unvoiced on dying row. I share this award with quite a few folks:
“First, I share this award with the entire paralegals, investigators, and attorneys within the Capital Habeas Unit. My colleagues battle tirelessly, and so they proceed to buoy me via extremely exhausting instances.
“Second, I share this award with my husband, Lee Peoples, and my daughter, Amelia Peoples. They make numerous room in our household life for this work. My work requires a lot of nights, weekends, and I typically miss vital occasions. Lee and Amelia by no means complain and so they all the time supply love and assist.
“And at last, I share this award with the numerous males on dying row whom I’ve represented over the past 20 years. They’ve been my best academics. I’ve realized extra from them about humility, resilience, love, compassion, and the desire to stay. I’m honored to symbolize them.”
Rolls inspired “everybody to maintain preventing. In the future, the incremental change we’re making will quantity to the eradication of the barbaric observe of the dying penalty. Proceed to offer a voice to the forgotten and preserve pushing.”
The night’s third honor was the Lifetime Abolitionist Award.
Joyce Jackson praised the work of honoree Leslie Fitzhugh, born in Boley and a longtime Oklahoma Metropolis resident.
Jackson hailed her good friend as “genuine and socially aware.” She rapidly catalogued Fitzhugh’s record {of professional} and private affiliations, (together with 30 years with the Oklahoma Division of Corrections), characterizing her as – “a neighborhood servant and advocate” – in addition to a mom, grandmother and Sunday faculty instructor.”
In abstract, Jackson mentioned “neighborhood service is in Leslie’s DNA. She is decided to make Oklahoma a greater place.”
Accepting the honour, Fitzhugh described herself as “passionate in regards to the work we do.”
She referenced a specific reminiscence in regards to the late Jim Rowan, a legendary lawyer, OK County Public Defender and OK-CADP board member, who labored to oppose the dying penalty and defend these accused of capital crimes. Fitzhugh remembered a dialog with Rowan regarding certainly one of his shoppers in Tulsa. “That man had tears in his eyes,” she recalled. “It impressed me that he felt so robust about that problem. I miss Jim, and the work he was doing.”
Fitzhugh mentioned she was “honored to work for … Julius Jones and his beautiful, beautiful household. … It takes all of us to make a distinction.”
Marc M. Howard particulars ‘Unusually Merciless’ practices in American legal justice system
The night started with a presentation from keynote speaker Marc M. Howard, a professor at Georgetown College and founding father of the Prisons and Justice Initiative. Howard spoke, by way of videotape and using an in depth energy level, from eight time zones away, in Europe.
Howard, creator of the ebook “Unusually Merciless: Prisons, Punishment, and the Actual American Exceptionalism” started his tutorial profession educating political science, with an emphasis on European politics. However serving to to safe the discharge from jail of Marty Tankleff, a childhood good friend, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his mother and father, redirected a lot of his life’s work.
Tankleff served 17 years earlier than being exonerated with Marc’s assist.
The case and the conviction have been deemed a up to date “traditional case of false confession.”
That labor reworked his view of the American system, Howard recounted, “My eyes had been opened to injustice, and I couldn’t return to closing them once more.”
Consequently, “I got down to attempt to convey folks inside prisons into view, and to attach them with folks on the skin via my nonprofit The Frederick Douglass Mission.”
Howard informed the OK-CADP viewers he had come to grasp “the large humanity that’s locked away and separated from us.”
Howard shared the surprising indisputable fact that America spends extra on incarceration than on training. His evaluation of what he known as “staggering statistics” on that and different issues led to his scholarly and academic give attention to problems with incarceration, comparative lack of alternatives for rehabilitation, and the methods wherein america stands in marked distinction to different techniques characterised by consultant authorities and the rule of regulation.
With data-driven evaluation, Howard famous that some 100 million Individuals have some type of legal file. One other 20 million Individuals have felony convictions, 15 million “contact the legal justice system” every year, and seven million Individuals are beneath some type of correctional management.
Additional, 2.7 million youngsters have a mother or father in jail.
One other amongst these “simply staggering statistics,” he mentioned.
The U.S. has seven to 10 instances the incarceration fee of different democracies, but doesn’t fall among the many nations with low crime charges.
Howard mentioned the nation’s misuse of plea bargains, prolonged jail sentences, and circumstances in prisons and jails drive the sense of despair for many who encounter the system. Summing up, he famous, “we’ve got 5 p.c of the world’s inhabitants however we’ve got 25 p.c of the world’s jail inhabitants.”
Given these statistics, he mentioned the cultural query to ask is “How do we wish folks to behave as soon as they get out?”
With that transition, he pointed to totally different requirements for parole and surer prospects for compassionate launch as points that impede “societal reentry.” Too typically, “individuals are basically set as much as fail.”
He argued the historic elements in America contributing to harsher sentencing embrace Jim Crow legal guidelines, convict leasing, faith, the distortive impact of politics (elected D.A.s and prosecutors) and the “jail industrial advanced” – together with each companies and unions.
Howard visited Julius Jones a yr in the past on the McAlester dying row unit. He mentioned he speaks with him commonly, and that Jones has spoken to his courses in addition to his sister Antionette. He informed attendees on the OK-CADP occasion: “His story is the traditional story for why the dying penalty is fallacious.” He has a lot he can do if and when he comes residence.”
Like different audio system, Howard affirmed the robust household assist Julius Jones has in his battle to flee execution and acquire exoneration. He referenced “his superb sister Antoinette.”
Howard inspired attendees to “pay attention to the failings of the legal justice system. Fortuitously, this has turn out to be a bipartisan problem – vote for leaders who will work for reform.” He inspired employers “to rent and assist people who find themselves popping out of jail.” He requested caring folks to “go to a jail, get entangled.” Howard based the Frederick Douglass Mission attempting to get as many individuals as doable to go to a jail.
“When you see incarcerated folks on the within and join with them on a human stage it’s exhausting to return to the outdated robust on crime and demonization perspective,” he mentioned.
Individuals Executed and Exonerated, Julius Jones replace
Early within the night, Nathaniel Batchelder and Pat Hoerth Batchelder of The Peace Home solemnly learn the names of 34 individuals executed, together with 13 federal executions, because the final OK-CADP annual assembly (June 8, 2019) in addition to the ten Oklahoma exonerees.
The coalition’s efforts to assist facets of the state Pardon and Parole Board’s expanded work on clemency and parole points was featured in a report from Cece Jones-Davis.
An ordained minister, she recounted latest efforts in behalf of the Julius Jones Coalition she based and has lengthy guided.
Jones-Davis referred to the 2023 Oklahoma Metropolis screening of the movie “Simply Mercy.” Because of turnout and constructive response to the movie, she felt “we have been on our means” at that time.
Then got here the prolonged disruption of every little thing through the worldwide Pandemic of 2023-21. Jones and her workforce, throughout that point established contact with “Symbolize Justice,” a nationwide group working via avenues of public consciousness. The Julius for Julius advocacy undertaking is now a “micro-campaign” of the nationwide group.
The Julius Jones Coalition, OK-CADP and different teams supported the efforts of Julius Jones’ federal public defenders Dale Baich and Amanda Bass (his colleague within the federal habeas unit based mostly in Arizona) to press for a listening to earlier than the state P&P Board. Preliminary success got here with the P&P Board’s resolution to listen to the Jones case and others.
All through the previous yr, opponents of the dying penalty labored in sensible methods. Recent in reminiscence was the “religion stroll” from Wesley United Methodist Church on N. Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma Metropolis. A whole bunch gathered to accompany leaders on a stroll to the P&P places of work, the place they submitted 6.2 million signatues on the Change.org petition asking for the commutation of Jones, Cece Jones-Davis said.
The scheduled June listening to for Julius Jones earlier than the P&P Board was delayed till September 13.
In her feedback for the OK-CADP, Cece Jones-Davis requested for folks to assist the brand new September Stage Two commutation listening to for Julius. “Maintain them accountable to that date and never delay it once more,” she concluded.
Replace on Oklahoma Executions
Emma Rolls delivered recent remarks in a report on the greater than two dozen males now on dying row who may turn out to be eligible for execution dates, together with Julius, relying on the end result of a case within the U.S. district courtroom for Oklahoma’s western district.
The state’s execution protocol has been legally challenged, Rolls reported. If that problem doesn’t succeed, the boys may quickly thereafter face execution dates.
The Oklahoma Corrections Division protocol for executions restored the extremely controversial use of a deadly “drug cocktail” employed within the notorious botched executions of two males.
Rolls communicated a way of urgency to her on-line viewers. She believes, after collaborating in knowledgeable coaching course of for P&P Board members, “the P&P Board won’t rush via the hearings.”
She believes clemency shall be granted in some instances.
Nonetheless, she inspired additional advocacy for a clear and impactful P&P course of, saying, “The extra consideration this will get the higher.”
Rolls has beforehand detailed authorized causes many now on dying row shouldn’t be executed attributable to psychological disabilities or tragic upbringings.
Customary Enterprise, Prayers, and OK-CADP Sponsors
Rev. Don Heath, the OK-CADP chair, served as host for the annual assembly, throughout which customary enterprise was carried out.
Heath inspired assist for the Bob Lemon Capital Protection Legal professional Scholarship Fund, which offers monetary assist for skilled coaching in issues of the dying penalty.
Rev. Dr. Larry T. Crudup of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Oklahoma Metropolis delivered the benediction. He prayed:
“Could God proceed to look after Julius, and the Jones Household as liberation comes. Could God’s power stir you to by no means develop weary in doing good. (Galatians 6:9) Could God’s voice engulf you to talk up for many who can not communicate for themselves. (Proverbs 31:8) Could God’s discernment information you to guage pretty. (Proverbs 31:9) Could God’s justice compel you to defend the rights of the poor. (Proverbs 31:9)
“And as you stand as abolitionists and carriers of divine love, could you proceed to have eyes that see the very best in folks, hearts that forgive the worst in folks, minds that overlook the dangerous in folks, and a soul that by no means loses religion in Justice and in God. Depart in peace, Dwell in Energy, Love on Objective.”
Rev. Crudup’s benediction concluded the proceedings.
Rev. Kayla Bonewell of The Church of the Open Arms delivered the invocation to start the night of hope and affirmation for these on dying row, and for these working to finish authorities imposition of the dying penalty. “We collect right here at the moment to wish for and advocate on behalf of these affected by the dying penalty,” she mentioned. “Not just for these on dying row, however for his or her household and mates, for sufferer’s and perpetrators, for the harmless and the responsible…We pray that you’ll empower us with the virtues of reconciliation – not of vengeance.”
OK-CADP occasion sponsors for 2023 included Edmond Trinity Christian Church, Emma Rolls, First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma Convention of Church buildings,
Oklahoma Innocence Mission, and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Organizational members of OK-CADP embrace the ACLU of Oklahoma; Amnesty Worldwide Oklahoma Metropolis; Brennan Society; Catholic Convention of Oklahoma; Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK); Legal Justice & Mercy Ministries –United Methodist OK Convention; Divine Worship Heart – Edmond Trinity Christian Church; Finish Violence In all places – Episcopal Diocese OK Peace & Justice Fee; Religion in Motion Fee Christian Church Oklahoma; First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma Metropolis, Pleasure Mennonite Church; Kansas/Oklahoma Convention United Church of Christ; Homicide Victims Households for Human Rights; Nationwide Affiliation of Social Staff Oklahoma Chapter; Nationwide Affiliation of Blacks in Legal Justice, Oklahoma Chapter; NAACP Oklahoma Metropolis Chapter; Oklahoma Convention of Church buildings; Oklahoma County Public Defenders; Oklahoma Treatment; Oklahoma Indigent Protection System; The Peace Home; Oklahoma Metropolis Non secular Society of Pals; St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Social Justice Committee, and plenty of particular person advocates and supporters.
Disclosure: The authors of this story are members of OK-CADP. The Metropolis Sentinel newspaper was in previous years an occasion sponsor, and has made frequent contributions to assist the group’s work, together with this yr.
For extra info or to contribute to the Coalition’s work, write: OK-CADP, PO Field 713, Oklahoma Metropolis, OK 73101; go to okcadp.org or electronic mail [email protected].
Observe: The Metropolis Sentinel is an unbiased, non-partisan and locally-owned newspaper based mostly in Oklahoma Metropolis. The newspaper is revealed in Oklahoma Metropolis, with a ‘24/7’ on-line presence.
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