Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholds governor's authority to postpone executions
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has affirmed Gov. Tom Wolf’s constitutional authority to postpone executions.
The court, in a unanimous decision (PDF) Monday, said Wolf had the power to delay the execution of a convicted murderer until a legislative task force issues a report on the future of capital punishment in the state, the Associated Press, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.
The ruling does not address Wolf’s broader authority to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, which he contends is ineffective, unjust and too expensive. Wolf was elected as a Democrat in 2014.
Wolf had postponed the scheduled execution of death row inmate Terrance Williams last March pending a report and recommendations by the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Committee on Capital Punishment. Williams had been sentenced to death for robbing and beating a Philadelphia man to death with a tire iron in 1984.
Wolf’s decision had been challenged by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, who argued that the governor had overstepped his constitutional authority if he intended to halt all executions with reprieves.
But the supreme court, in an opinion by Justice Max Baer, sided with Wolf.
“We find no limitation on the executive reprieve power relating to the duration of the reprieve, so long as it is temporary in nature and operates only for an interval of time,” Baer wrote.
Wolf, who has since issued reprieves in the cases of four other convicted killers, issued a statement saying he was pleased by the ruling.
“My decision to issue temporary reprieves came after significant consideration and reflection, and was in no way an expression of sympathy for the guilty on death row,” he said. “My only sympathy lies with the family members of the victims of these horrible crimes.”
A spokesman for Williams said prosecutors respect the decision, though they disagreed with it.
