John Louis Evans, III v. Alabama

Background

An Alabama man was convicted in 1977 of murder during a robbery and sentenced to death. His conviction and sentence were repeatedly reviewed in state and federal courts, including appeals and a federal habeas challenge. After extensive proceedings, Alabama set an execution date and the man filed a last-minute request asking the Alabama Supreme Court to review his sentencing and to pause the execution.

Reasoning

A Justice sitting in chambers considered the man’s request to delay the execution while his petition for review was pending. The Justice noted that the capital-sentencing claims had already been examined many times by several courts. He concluded there was not a reasonable likelihood that at least four Justices of the full Supreme Court would agree to take up the case, and so he denied the pause request with the support of six other Members of the Court.

Real world impact

Because the stay was denied, Alabama was allowed to proceed with the scheduled execution. The decision does not resolve the underlying merits of the sentencing challenges; it only refuses temporary relief to delay the execution. The record shows this dispute has been litigated repeatedly in state and federal courts, and the Justice relied on that history in denying the stay.

Dissents or concurrances

Two Justices, Justice Brennan and Justice Marshall, indicated they would have granted the requested stay and delayed the execution pending further review.