Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 3.9.16

What a rollercoaster week this has been for us at Holman! The Alabama Supreme Court set an execution date for Vernon Madison for May 12^th and the Attorney General’s office requested execution dates for Robert Melson  and for our Chairman, Ronald B. Smith.

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 3.2.16

S.B. 237 filed by Senator Brewbaker R. Montgomery and cosponsored by Senators Hightower, Whatley, Stutts, Marsh, Reed, Ward, Smitherman and Figures, made it out of committee by a 10-0 vote. It now moves to the full Senate. Our thanks and appreciation to Stephen Stetson, a lawyer of Alabama Arise for his skilled presentation in favor of the bill and the Innocence panel which he stated was needed “as recognition of human frailty in the justice system”.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER SAM L SULLINS TELLS SENATOR CAM WARD:

GO FOR 237 AND 117

February 29, 2016

Senator Cam Ward
Chairperson
Senate Judiciary Committee
Alabama State House
11 S. Union St.
Montgomery, AL 36130

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 2.24.16

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 2.17.16

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 2.3.16

We are proud that the law class at Holman offered by our Vice Chairman, Anthony Tyson is reaching out to all the men who are out of appeals. The topic will address the options remaining related to the Florida Hurst ruling as well as to the lethal injection protocol. A positive vehicle for mutual support!

The letters regarding the essay competition were mailed to the various principals. We look forward to their response.

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 1.27.16

It most probably goes without saying that we are still stunned by the execution of Christopher Brooks last week. We discussed the potential repercussions for others,  and what, if anything, could be learned from this tragedy. The importance of staying on top of one’s case was a recurring topic for all of us.

Friends,

We are sad to announce that the State of Alabama took the life of Christopher E. Brooks tonight at Holman Prison. Our thoughts and prayers are with Christopher Brooks’ family members, friends and his valiant attorneys who took him on during the last few months after Chris had fired his previous attorney and had consequently missed a deadline. We thank them!

Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison, 1.20.16

Christopher Brooks’ petition for an emergency stay, so that he could be part of the Midazolam litigation in April, was denied by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals.  This petition is now before the US Supreme Court. The petition to the Alabama Supreme Court asking for a stay based on the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court which found the Florida sentencing scheme (similar to ours) unconstitutional was also denied.