Posts tagged Brad Henry
The ACLU of Oklahoma praises Henry for clemency grant
7.30.08
Press Release
7/30/08
Oklahoma City, OK — The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma’s Anti-Death Penalty Project (ADPP) commends Governor Brad Henry for granting clemency to Kevin Young. Young was sentenced to die in Oklahoma County for the murder of Joseph Sutton in May of 1996. The Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency on June 9, and on July 24, Henry bravely commuted Young’s death sentence to life without parole. It is only his second time to grant clemency since taking office. The members of the ACLU of Oklahoma’s ADPP believe this is a step in the right direction for abolishing the death penalty in Oklahoma.
Members of the ADPP were present when the Pardon and Parole Board made the decision to grant clemency for Young. Four jurors that originally sentenced Young to die pleaded to the Board to grant him clemency. Young’s family explained how he was an asset in their lives by teaching the children in their family that living a life of crime will lead to life in prison. Due to Oklahoma laws, Young was not able to appear in person at his hearing but was able to testify via television. He said he was truly sorry to Sutton’s family More >
GOVERNOR HENRY’S VETO OF ABORTION BILL IS VICTIM OF LEGISLATIVE OVERRIDE
6.26.08
Governor Brad Henry issued a veto of Senate Bill 1878, an Omnibus Anti-Abortion Bill on the evening of Wednesday April 16, 2008. The Oklahoma State Senate voted 37-11 to override the veto on Thursday, April 17, 2008. Less than an hour later, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 81-15 to override.
Among the worst of the provisions of the new law are the following:
It requires doctors to perform vaginal ultrasounds prior to every abortion procedure. Patients have no choice in the matter. Oklahoma is currently state with such a law.
A woman’s right to receive urgent medical treatment would be impeded at a hospital if an employee refused to treat her based on moral or religious grounds.
A woman’s right to receive an non-surgical abortion using medication can be restricted by limiting a doctor’s ability to administer the drug and hampering the physician’s discretion to determine appropriate medical care. This non-surgical method of terminating early pregnancy has been proven to be both safe and effective.
The ACLU of Oklahoma was successful at urging many people contact Governor Henry to urge his veto of Senate Bill 1878. In addition, the ACLU sent hundreds of letters to constituents in targeted legislative districts asking constituents to contact More >
