Federal Court, Governor Decline to Intervene in Smith Case - Articles

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Federal Court, Governor Decline to Intervene in Smith Case

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 20, 2022

A plea to halt the execution of Oscar Franklin Smith was denied this morning by U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger, the Tennessean reports. In her ruling Trauger wrote: "He had his day in court. These facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, are simply not sufficient to establish a violation of his rights to due process, to a judicial remedy, or to access the courts.” Trauger did, however, grant Smith’s request not to have an autopsy performed after his execution based on his personal religious beliefs. Yesterday, Gov. Bill Lee said he would not intervene to stop the execution, denying clemency to the prisoner. Smith is set to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday. It will be Tennessee's first execution since 2020.