Joint Press Statement

Contact: Contact:
Anita Grabowski Cathleen Burnett
Communications Director, NCADP Vice Chair, MADP
512-496-6695 816-206-8692


U.S. Supreme Court Grants Stay to Russell Bucklew

(Washington DC and Kansas City, MO5/22/14) Late on Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a
stay of execution for Russell Bucklew in Missouri, allowing his appeal with the 8
th
Circuit Court to
proceed. The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) and our state affiliate,
Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP) applaud the courts decision to allow Mr.
Bucklews claims under the Eighth Amendment to be heard.

We still dont know all of what went wrong last month in Oklahoma, but we do know that the cause of
that disaster was that the state insisted on proceeding in secrecy. For Missouri to follow suit would have
been unconscionable, said Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish
the Death Penalty. The problems that arise with shrouding the execution process in secrecy are not
limited to this case. We are calling on Governor Nixon and all governors in death penalty states to halt
all executions given that they cannot provide assurances that the death penalty will be carried out in
accordance with the protections granted under the Constitution.

Missourians, even those who support the death penalty, do not want to torture an individual through a
prolonged, excruciating execution. We are relieved that Mr. Bucklews execution has been stayed, and
we will continue to lift the voices of Missourians who beseech Governor Nixon to act with transparency
and accountability when it comes to the death penalty in our state, commented Rita Linhardt, Chair of
Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

What happened in Oklahoma is not an isolated incident. We have seen time and again how the death
penalty fails us. We cannot proceed with executions in this country where evidence of the risk of
executing the innocent is mounting, racial bias in sentencing is well documented, and legal protections
against executing those with intellectual disabilities and preventing cruel and unusual punishment are
disregarded by state lawmakers. No executions should go forward in this climate. Americans who
oppose the death penalty are outraged, organized, and ready to fight to halt all executions nationwide
we must start with halting the executions in Missouri. The world is watching. The nation is paying
attention. The time to end capital punishment is now.
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The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is the nation's oldest organization dedicated to the
abolition of the death penalty. We are comprised of an extensive network representing more than 100
state and national affiliate organizations and thousands of advocates and volunteers. Our members
include families of murder victims, people across the political and religious spectrum, past and present
law enforcement officials and prominent civil and racial justice organizations working to end the death
penalty forever.

In January 2014, the National Coalition to Abolished the Death Penalty launched the 90 Million Strong
Campaign to partner with and mobilize a growing number of national organizations and individuals who
believe that it is time for the death penalty to end. (ncadp.org)

Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the
use of the death penalty in the state of Missouri. (madpmo.org)