Richard Glossip, a death row inmate in Oklahoma, has been scheduled for execution multiple times since his conviction in 1998 for the murder of motel owner Barry Van Treese. Despite maintaining his innocence, Glossip has faced several setbacks in his pursuit of justice, including the recent denial of clemency by the state Pardon and Parole Board. As the execution date approaches, many are calling for an end to the flawed justice system that has failed Glossip and countless others.
Glossip was convicted of arranging Van Treese’s murder after prosecutors argued that he paid a 19-year-old maintenance worker, Justin Sneed, to commit the crime. However, Glossip’s attorneys have long contended that he was wrongly convicted and that Sneed is the true killer. The case has drawn national attention, with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Susan Sarandon advocating for Glossip’s release.
Despite the public outcry and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office calling for clemency, the state Pardon and Parole Board denied Glossip’s request on April 20th. This decision has left Glossip’s fate in the hands of Governor Kevin Stitt, who cannot grant clemency without the board’s recommendation. Glossip’s attorneys have filed a motion asking for a full, five-member clemency panel to review his case and prevent his execution.
Glossip’s case highlights the flaws in the US justice system, particularly in regards to the death penalty. A 2014 investigation by the Guardian found that almost 4% of death row inmates in the US are likely innocent, and numerous cases of wrongful convictions have been uncovered in recent years. The use of capital punishment has also been criticized for its racial bias and the socioeconomic disparities that often result in poor and marginalized individuals being sentenced to death.
Additionally, the Oklahoma justice system has come under scrutiny in recent years due to numerous cases of botched executions and faulty lethal injection drugs. Glossip himself narrowly avoided execution in 2015 after the state received the wrong drug for his scheduled lethal injection. The state later revised its lethal injection protocol, but concerns about the efficacy and safety of such procedures remain.
As the country continues to grapple with issues of systemic racism and inequality, the use of capital punishment is increasingly seen as outdated and immoral. The ongoing fight for Richard Glossip’s clemency is just one example of the need for a more just and compassionate legal system. Those who are wrongly convicted or sentenced to death cannot be forgotten, and the pursuit of true justice must continue.
