Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon never called Dennis Skillicorn's lawyer at the Public Interest Litigation Clinic to say that he'd denied Skillicorn's petition for clemency. Scott Holste, the governor's press secretary, wrote up a press release that was sent to media outlets shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, but nobody notified Jennifer Merrigan, Skillicorn's lawyer. As a result, Skillicorn himself didn't find out that he was denied clemency until after Merrigan read it on the The Kansas City Star's Web site, almost an hour after the press release had been issued.
A little after 9 p.m., PILC's director, Terri Backhus, walked into the room. "We're done," she announced grimly. The clerk for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who is in charge of weighing emergency motions that arise from the 8th Circuit Court, had just informed Backhus that Alito had denied all four of Skillicorn's still-pending motions.
It was quiet for a moment or two. "This is premeditated, ritualized killing," a lawyer spat. "State-sanctioned. This is truly sick."
Reality started to sink in, but the lawyers kept working. One UMKC law student pulled up a state statute that addresses the issue of notification as it relates to clemency denials. "Yeah, from 16 years ago," Merrigan sighed. Nevertheless, she added Connecticut Board of Pardons v. Dumschat to her motion.
getting executions back on track in 2009, Skillicorn's will be just the first of many.
Reginald Clemons is scheduled to die Wednesday, June 17.
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It took entirely too long to finally get this execution done. Now, still almost 18 years later, the second half of this team is still ALIVE AND WELL in prison. Yep been, 18 years since they killed my sister. Still waiting for justice.
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Barely two years ago, Jay Nixon, as Attorney General, called for execution dates to be set for twelve Death Row inmates. Dennis Skillicorn was amongst these twelve men.
Jay Nixon becomes Governor, and Skillicorn's supporters are forced to raise what some term 'frivolous' appeals, to try to save his life. Amongst these, is the claim that Nixon, because of his position as previous Attorney General, should not be the one that they approach for clemency. This seems logical - a change of position and status, is not going to cause the man to change his perspective. Just give him the better position to abuse the system. I don't think anyone with half a modicum of sense in their head, was ever foolish enough to believe that clemency was going to happen. Not for Skillicorn, or any of the others that follow.
There is an outcry on Skillicorn's impending execution, and Kenneth Baumrak's set execution date isn't close enough to remove that attention. So, what does Missouri do?
Sets another execution date for an inmate on June 17th, and one who has an appeal pending, no less. Practically guaranteed to draw media attention, raise legal motions (all at the Missouri Taxpayer's expense, incidentally) - and hopefully take some of the focus off Skillicorn.
Then, not content with abusing their own legal procedures and incurring more costs for the Missouri taxpayer, the Governor's office have the arrogance to ignore the legal process of informing Skillicorn's lawyer that his petition for clemency has been denied. Not only a legal process - but what should also be, at the very least, a professional courtesy.
Missouri is starting to look dirty.
Like the families of the condemed? What did Skillicorn's mother do do have her son murdered? Capital punishment brings more victims who the state then brush off. Welcome to the USA where EVERYONE is a victim.
thanks, pitch, for contributing to the media's celebrity fascination with murderers and criminals, and ignoring the lives and people that these people devastated.
It costs more to kill a prisoner than to keep one alive for a full life sentence. Research it. Its a fact.
Joe- Your argument sucks b/c it costs *millions* more dollars to execute an inmate than to let him/her serve a life sentence.
Tyler- The "cold-blooded killers victims" *did* have a team of attorneys representing them...it's called a Prosecutor's Office and it's very professional and well-funded. The only rationale by which you could justify denying a convicted person the due process of law would be that you are a vengeful, blood-thirsty fucknozzle.
I really don't understand how they can execute a man who hadn't killed anyone.
Joe sounds evil, and evil people are in charge too many things in this country. I guess if Dick Cheney or George Bush were on death row I'd have a different opinion about the whole thing...
LEGAL executions are the law in many states. The cold blooded killers' victims did not have a group of laywers to pled their case before he murdered them. Who spoke for them ? The State of Missouri did... THANK YOU MISSOURI !!!
And Joe, above, should be that next person to be set ready... as an obvious prat.
And Joe, above, should be that next person to be set ready... as an obvious prat.
I am against the death penalty 100%.
I am pro-life...all life.
I can't help but to think about the thousands of state-sanctioned executions that happen every day in this country.
I also know Jennifer Merrigan from law school, I was in her class and graduated with her. I am proud of her - always a great student, great person and looks like a great attorney.
One day everyone (like those law students and lawyers in this article) that values life will join together to stop all state-sanctioned killings: the death penalty and abortion.
me thinks it will never happen, but I can dream.
cgm
GOOD, HE DESERVED TO DIE. LETS GET THE NEXT ONE READY. THESE PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS, AND WHY SHOULD RTAX DOLLARS SUPPORT THEM? ESPECIALLY WHEN KIDS ARE STARVING......OH YEAH, THE GREEDY LAWYERS NEED TO MAKE MONEY, AND THEY MAKE MONEY WHEN THERES YEARS OF COURT TRIALS!
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