Gov. Mary Fallin Issues 37-Day Stay Of Execution For Richard Glossip

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has issued a 37-day stay of execution for high-profile death row inmate Richard Glossip. 

The execution has been stayed until November 6, 2015. According to an executive order issued by the Governor's office, the stay is ordered due to "the Department of Corrections having received potassium acetate as drug number three for the three-drug protocol."  

The Governor said this stay will give the Department of Corrections and its attorneys the opportunity to determine whether potassium acetate is compliant with the execution protocol and/or to obtain potassium chloride. 

Special Coverage: Richard Glossip Execution

Earlier this week, Glossip's attorneys filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to grant a stay of execution for Glossip. 

Glossip was scheduled to be executed at 3 p.m. Wednesday. DOC officials delayed execution procedures as they waited for the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the petition. At about 3 p.m., the Supreme Court denied a stay of execution for Glossip.

At about 4 p.m., Gov. Fallin halted Glossip's execution, issuing a stay of 37 days. 

A spokesperson for the state Attorney General's office released the following statement regarding the stay:

“Shortly before the scheduled execution, the Department of Corrections advised the attorney general’s office that it did not have the specific drugs identified in the execution protocol. The attorney general advised the Department of Corrections and the governor that the litigated protocol, which had been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, had to be followed. It is unclear why, and extremely frustrating to the attorney general, that the Department of Corrections did not have the correct drugs to carry out the execution. Our hearts break for the family of Barry Van Treese for having to endure yet another delay.  However, the most sobering and important duty for the state is to carry out the punishment of death.”

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