The Clark County District Attorney Asks the Court to Stop Death Row Commutes

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (702 Times, NV Globe) – The Clark County District Attorney’s Office filed an emergency appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court on Monday, seeking to halt a vote that may provide commutations to 65 inmates facing the death penalty.

If the Supreme Court grants the letter of prohibition, the State Board of Pardons Commissioners will be unable to vote on Tuesday.

If the vote is held, it may alter all death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of release.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson expressed worries about the vote last week. The petition asks the Supreme Court to rule on whether the Board of Pardons failed to fulfill the conditions.

Wolfson stated last week that he had “several worries” about the item.

A spokesman for Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak stated on Dec. 15 that the item had been placed to the board’s agenda at the governor’s request.

“[T]he Governor has always said that capital punishment should be sought and used less often, and he believes this is an appropriate and necessary step forward in the ongoing conversation and discussion around capital punishment,” the petition reads.

The DA’s office believes the meeting set for Tuesday is unapproved and not properly marked and that the board lacks jurisdiction over the subject.

The latest execution in Nevada occurred in 2006, when convicted murderer Daryl Mack was executed by lethal injection.

On Friday, the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office also filed a similar petition in state court in Carson City.

Washoe DA wants to prohibit pardons board from contemplating death penalty clemency

Credits: Fox 5 Vegas

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