Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol upheld

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Scott Pruitt commented on the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in Glossip v. Gross that upheld as constitutional Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol.

“The state of Oklahoma is vested with the authority to carry out the sentence of death handed out by juries for the most heinous of crimes. State officials act deliberately and thoughtfully in carrying out this responsibility. This marks the eighth time a court has reviewed and upheld as constitutional the lethal injection protocol used by Oklahoma. The Court’s ruling preserves the ability of the Department of Corrections to proceed with carrying out the punishment of death. The state appreciates the justices’ thoughtful consideration of these important issues. I also want to thank Solicitor General Patrick Wyrick and the entire trial team at the Attorney General’s Office for their outstanding legal work in arguing and winning this case before the highest court in the land,” Attorney General Pruitt said.

The U.S. Supreme Court granted the state of Oklahoma’s request to stay executions pending the outcome of this case. The stay was dissolved when the Court released its opinion.

The Attorney General’s Office, pursuant to state law, will notify the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals that the court is now able to set execution dates for Richard Glossip, John Marion Grant, and Benjamin Robert Cole.

OK AG Scott Pruitt

“The families in these three cases have waited a combined 48 years for justice. Now that the legal issues have been settled, the state can proceed with ensuring that justice is served for the victims of these horrible and tragic crimes,” Attorney General Pruitt said.