COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court has announced a temporary pause in executions for the upcoming holiday season.
On Thursday, justices issued a directive stating that they will not sign any new death warrants until at least January 3.
Earlier this year, South Carolina resumed executions after a prolonged hiatus of 13 years. This break was largely due to difficulties in acquiring the necessary drugs for lethal injections, as pharmaceutical companies were hesitant to sell the drugs if their identities would be publicized.
However, thanks to a newly implemented privacy law shielding the identities of drug suppliers, officials were able to secure the required substances and restart executions.
The court’s brief ruling did not provide a rationale for the holiday suspension.
Following this announcement, there was an opportunity to issue a death warrant for inmate Marion Bowman Jr. on November 8, potentially leading to his execution on December 6.
So far, two inmates have been executed this year, and four others facing a potential execution schedule have requested a reprieve during the holidays.
Their lawyers argued that executing six inmates in rapid succession would impose a heavy burden on everyone involved, especially during a period that holds significant importance for families.
State attorneys countered, asserting that prison officials were prepared to maintain the proposed schedule and reminded the court that executions during the Christmas and New Year’s period are not unprecedented.
Five executions took place between December 4, 1998, and January 8, 1999.
Per state law, executions must occur on the “fourth Friday after the receipt of such notice.” Therefore, if the justices choose to issue a death warrant for Bowman on January 3, his execution could be scheduled for January 31.
After reinstating the death penalty, the Supreme Court committed in August to spacing executions five weeks apart. This approach is intended to afford prison staff and attorneys representing multiple condemned inmates adequate time to manage the extensive legal preparations required.
This includes ensuring the necessary drugs for lethal injection and also preparing “alternatives” like the electric chair or firing squad, in addition to managing last-minute appeal processes.
Bowman, 44, was convicted of murdering 21-year-old Kandee Martin, whose charred remains were discovered in her car trunk in Dorchester County in 2001. He has been on death row for over half of his life.
If executed, Bowman would be the third inmate put to death since the state successfully acquired the required drugs for lethal injection. Freddie Owens was executed on September 20, and Richard Moore followed on November 1.
Historically, South Carolina has been one of the states with the highest execution rates. However, the practice largely ceased in 2011 due to challenges in procuring lethal injection drugs, linked to pharmaceutical companies’ reluctance to disclose their sales to officials.
In response, the state Legislature enacted a law allowing for the anonymity of lethal injection drug suppliers, and in July, the state Supreme Court affirmed the resumption of executions.