Statement from the Promise of Justice Initiative on Board’s Failure to Act on Capital Clemency

The Promise of Justice Initiative is shocked by the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole’s refusal to even consider clemency applications from death row. 

AG Landry, the prosecutor in many of these cases, grossly and indefensibly overstepped when he instructed Governor Edwards' board to dismiss all clemency applications from people on death row using a baseless and self-interested interpretation of the capital clemency rules. In refusing to consider these applications, the Board has rescinded its own ability to use thoughtful, careful judgment to consider the worthiness of each human being. Hiding behind the smoke and mirrors of an unprecedented misapplication of its own bureaucratic rules, the Board is attempting to cover its decision to condemn these people to die. 

It now rests on Governor Edwards to instruct the Board to set hearings for people on death row. Each person should have a chance to be considered for a life sentence. 

This week, Louisiana was failed by our appointed officials. This state has been given a chance to commute death row to life sentences. We can still choose life over death, dignity over violence, right over wrong. 

We ask the Governor to act now.