More than 60 Oklahoma Legislators have signed a letter asking Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor to join death row inmate Richard Glossip’s request for an evidentiary hearing.
Recently, a group of ad hoc lawmakers asked law firm Reed Smith to review Glossip’s case. They concluded that there were serious issues with Glossip’s trial and based on all evidence now available, an evidentiary hearing is warranted before Glossip is put to death.
The sixty-one legislators are hoping the findings of the Reed Smith report will convince O’Connor to take action before it is too late for Glossip.
“Over 40% of the Oklahoma legislature have signed on to ask Attorney General O’Connor to join Richard Glossip’s request for an evidentiary hearing,” said Oklahoma State Representative Kevin McDugle. “It is my hope and belief that AG O’Connor will move quickly and join this request to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.”
McDugle has led the effort to prove Glossip is innocent, or at least, for his case to be reheard with the additional evidence.
Glossip’s attorney Don Knight agrees.
“Since new evidence continues to emerge, we know that no jury in Oklahoma has heard the whole story, or seen all the evidence in this case. We are gratified by the support of so many legislators in Oklahoma who see the value in looking at this new evidence, and urge the Attorney General’s office to join our application for an evidentiary hearing. This will give us the opportunity to present this evidence in court and show that Richard Glossip is an innocent man.”
The lawmakers’ letter to O’Connor can be found here.
