In Oklahoma City, a legal decision has paved the way for a man on death row to face execution. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, on Wednesday, overturned a temporary stay of execution for John Fitzgerald Hanson, who was convicted of the 1999 murder of Tulsa resident Mary Bowles. Hanson’s execution, initially paused earlier this week, is now set to proceed as planned.
The stay was implemented by a district court judge following an appeal by Hanson’s lawyers. They contended that Hanson did not receive a fair hearing before the state’s Pardon and Parole Board. This hearing resulted in a 3-2 vote opposing clemency, a decision Hanson’s attorneys argued was compromised. They pointed out that a board member had previously been employed by the district attorney’s office that prosecuted Hanson. Despite these concerns, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office argued that the district court judge lacked jurisdiction to order the execution stay.
In its ruling, the appeals court supported the Attorney General’s position, stating that the district judge did not have the necessary authority to intervene. The court further noted that even disregarding the board member’s vote, clemency would not have been granted due to a lack of a majority. Hanson’s legal team, unswayed by the appeals court’s decision, expressed their intention to challenge the ruling at the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Emma Rolls, a member of Hanson’s defense team, voiced her displeasure, emphasizing the critical implications for the clemency process in Oklahoma. “Nobody on the brink of execution should have to plea before a board member who has ties to the prosecutorial office,” she stated, highlighting the importance of fairness and impartiality in the hearing.
Hanson’s case incorporated another aspect involving the U.S. Supreme Court. His lawyers challenged the state prosecutors’ failure to provide the defense with crucial information about a key witness. Unfortunately for Hanson, the nation’s highest court denied this appeal on Wednesday as well.
Convicted in Tulsa County, Hanson received the death sentence for carjacking, kidnapping, and subsequently murdering Mary Bowles. Authorities recounted that Hanson and an accomplice abducted Bowles from a shopping mall in Tulsa. Previously, Hanson had been serving a life sentence in a Louisiana federal facility for unrelated offenses.
Earlier in the year, Hanson was transferred to Oklahoma custody at an accelerated pace. This followed an executive order from the Trump administration aiming to more actively impose the death penalty. This transfer from federal to state prison was in line with efforts to ensure the continuation of Hanson’s execution process.