Lawyers Ask South Carolina Supreme Court for Pause Until January
In a new legal filing, attorneys representing death row inmates in South Carolina are requesting a halt in executions until after the New Year’s Day holiday. They argue that the emotional toll of multiple executions during the holiday season would be devastating for all involved, from prison staff to the families of the condemned.
The request, submitted to the South Carolina Supreme Court last week, asks for a delay in the issuance of execution warrants until January 3. According to the state’s protocol, executions typically take place four weeks after a death warrant is issued, meaning that if the court agrees to the request, the next execution would not occur until January 31, 2025.
The attorneys emphasize the importance of family time during the winter holidays and point to the psychological strain that an uninterrupted string of six consecutive executions would place on those responsible for carrying them out. “Six consecutive executions with virtually no respite will take a substantial toll on all involved, particularly during a time of year that is so important to families,” the attorneys wrote in their motion.
A History of Execution Interruptions and Legal Debates
This request comes after a series of high-profile executions in the state, marking a notable return to the death penalty after a 13-year hiatus. The state’s Supreme Court ruled that both firing squad and electrocution were constitutional methods of execution, alongside lethal injection, which has become more controversial in recent years.
Since September, the state has carried out two executions: Freddie Owens, executed on September 20 for the 1997 murder of a gas station clerk, and Richard Moore, who was put to death on November 1 for the 1999 murder of a Spartanburg gas station worker. With several other inmates lined up for execution in the coming months, attorneys are concerned about the mental health and well-being of prison staff who may be tasked with carrying out multiple executions.
The court originally agreed to a five-week interval between executions after attorneys voiced concerns over the potential psychological effects of rapid succession. Previously, inmates’ lawyers had asked for a 13-week delay to allow staff a longer break between executions, but the court rejected that request, instead setting the current five-week interval. Inmates’ legal teams argue that another short break is needed before the next execution cycle begins.
Marion Bowman: The Next In Line
The case of Marion Bowman highlights the urgency of the current debate. Bowman, 44, was convicted in 2002 for the brutal murder of a 21-year-old mother, and he was expected to receive a death warrant on December 6. However, the state Supreme Court unexpectedly delayed the issuance of that warrant last Friday, raising further questions about the court’s approach to scheduling executions during the holiday season.
Bowman’s crime involved the killing of a woman who owed him money. After fatally shooting her, he placed her body in her car trunk and set the vehicle on fire in rural Dorchester County. Despite the court’s prior scheduling of executions, no explanation has been provided for the postponement of Bowman’s warrant.
The State’s Response: No Cause for Concern
State attorneys have dismissed the concerns raised by defense attorneys, arguing that nothing has gone wrong in the previous executions and that no reason exists to believe future executions will result in complications. They also pointed out that executions have been carried out during the winter months in past years, citing a series of five executions that took place between December 1998 and January 1999.
“The State stands ready to duly and carefully carry out its obligations under the law,” wrote the Attorney General’s Office in its response to the request for a delay. They also emphasized that the inmates and their attorneys had known about the execution schedule since August and should have raised their concerns earlier if they objected to the timing.
Despite this, attorneys for the death row inmates insist that even minor errors in the execution process can cause serious harm, and they argue that a brief pause would ensure that all executions are carried out as safely and efficiently as possible.
Ongoing Debate Over Death Penalty Methods
South Carolina’s return to the death penalty has reignited a wider conversation about execution methods, with lethal injection, electrocution, and the firing squad all now available options. The state recently replenished its lethal injection supply, aided by a new secrecy law that allows prison officials to keep the details of its execution protocols under wraps.
As executions continue, attention is being paid not only to the methods but also to the frequency of their occurrence. The request for a pause in executions over the holidays raises larger questions about the ethics and logistics of carrying out death sentences. Lawyers for the inmates argue that a temporary break would provide corrections staff with time to prepare and reduce the risks of any mishaps.
With the holidays approaching, South Carolina faces mounting pressure to decide whether to honor the request for a temporary halt or to proceed with scheduled executions.
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