South Carolina's Supreme Court has temporarily halted the issuance of new death warrants, pausing the state's first execution in over a decade. The state had scheduled the execution of death-row inmate Freddie Eugene Owens for September 20, 2024.
WCSC reported that Owens, who was convicted of murdering a convenience store clerk during a robbery in 1997, has exhausted all his appeals, making him the first inmate to face execution since South Carolina's last execution more than ten years ago.
The court's decision to pause the issuance of further death warrants stems from a debate over how much time should be allowed between executions, a matter not explicitly defined in current state law.
South Carolina has over 30 inmates currently on death row, with five having exhausted their appeals.
The legal battles and difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs have led to delays in carrying out executions. As a result, the state Supreme Court is now faced with determining if a set amount of time between executions is necessary.
The discussion has centered on the appropriate gap between executions, with death-row inmates advocating for a three-month interval, while the state proposes a gap of no more than one month.
This debate is critical because state law mandates that an execution occur four Fridays after a death warrant is issued, yet it does not specify the time between multiple executions.
Governor Henry McMaster has supported the existing law, stating that it was carefully devised and reflects years of legal precedent from across the country. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the rule of law and providing closure to victims and their families.
Freddie Eugene Owens, scheduled for execution on September 20, 2024, was convicted of a brutal crime that took place in 1997.
He was found guilty of killing a convenience store clerk during a robbery, a crime that has kept him on death row for decades. As the date approaches, Owens faces the decision of choosing his method of execution: lethal injection, firing squad, or electric chair.
This execution is notable not only because it marks South Carolina's return to capital punishment after a long hiatus, but also because it may involve the state's first use of a firing squad and possibly the first use of pentobarbital as a lethal injection drug.
The delay in issuing further death warrants has sparked a broader discussion about the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the death penalty in South Carolina.
The state has struggled with obtaining the drugs necessary for lethal injections, leading to the adoption of alternative methods like the firing squad and the electric chair. These challenges have contributed to the lengthy delays in carrying out executions.
Governor McMaster has expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the execution methods currently available, dismissing concerns about their reliability.
He has also reiterated his stance on the necessity of ending the legal process for the sake of the victims' families and society as a whole.
As South Carolina's Supreme Court deliberates on the issue of execution timing, the state awaits its decision.
There is no set deadline for when the court will resume issuing death warrants, leaving the fate of other death-row inmates uncertain.
The outcome of this decision could set a precedent for how the state handles executions in the future, particularly regarding the intervals between them.
The court's ruling will also have implications for the five inmates who have exhausted their appeals.
Depending on the decision, these inmates could face execution in the near future, with the timing of their death warrants hinging on the court's interpretation of state law.
