It represented a clear case of retaliation against Julius Jones’ clemency.Īfter a tie-breaking vote from Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, the bill passed 6-5 out of the Judiciary-Criminal Committee on March 2nd. His bill, HB 3903, would’ve restricted the Pardon and Parole Board from recommending parole for anyone sentenced to death or life without parole. Hope that a tide may be turning in favor of reforms came after the defeat of a bill from Republican Rep. Lawmaker’s effort to restrict Pardon and Parole Board fails Banners hanging over the Oklahoma state Capitol read “free Julius Jones” and “Stitt failed state” on Monday, February 7, 2022, the first day of the state’s legislative session. Jones’ supporters have promised they will continue to fight for him and they remain hopeful to find a way to one day get Jones released from prison.Family continues the fight to free Julius Jones from an Oklahoma prison Close Search for:īanners hanging over the Oklahoma state Capitol read “free Julius Jones” and “Stitt failed state” on Monday, February 7, 2022, the first day of the state’s legislative session. ![]() While taking away the chance of parole was not what most of Jones’ supporters wanted, it was a substantial move that is rarely taken by an Oklahoma governor. However instead of life with the possibility of parole, the governor’s executive order called for Jones to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Their calls for clemency were joined by celebrities such as Russell Westbrook, Baker Mayfield and Kim Kardashian.įour hours before the execution was scheduled to begin, Governor Stitt announced he was granting clemency for Julius Jones. Support for clemency was bolstered by a group of conservative lawmakers who support the death penalty, but were concerned about Jones’ conviction. He is watching and he is taking precise notes,” Jossell said. “No matter what happens in the next few hours, God is watching. And he’s not this monster that people portray him to be,” Davis-Jones said. A lot of people think I get to hug him, but I don’t get to hug him. I saw him, but I’ve been seeing him through a glass. Davis-Jones said she had not been allowed to speak with the governor since the parole board made its recommendation. ![]() Keith Jossell, Jones’ spiritual adviser, held a press conference. The governor had not yet made a statement about his decision to grant clemency or if he would allow the execution to proceed.Īs the supporters were waiting for the governor’s decision, Madeline Davis-Jones, Julius’ mother, and Rev. On the morning of November 18, the day of Jones’ scheduled execution, a group of supporters gathered at the Oklahoma capitol building to advocate for clemency. That left the decision as to whether or not Jones would be executed to Governor Kevin Stitt. The recommendation was for Jones’ sentence to be changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. ![]() Board members supporting clemency said they had too many doubts about his conviction. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Jones after hearing from his supporters and the Howell family. His case was bolstered by the confession of another person who claimed Jones was innocent and admitted to the murder. Jones has always maintained he had nothing to do with the murder. He was sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of Paul Howell, a businessman from Edmond. Jones has been on Oklahoma’s death row for nineteen years. His life was spared just hours before his execution was scheduled to begin. ![]() Julius Jones is off death row after an exhausting week of protests, appeals and pleas from a bipartisan group of supporters.
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