Kentucky has not carried out an execution since 2008, and executions have been on hold since 2010, when Franklin Circuit Judge Philip Shepherd began reviewing the state’s lethal injection protocol, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Currently, 25 inmates remain on death row.
State Senator Brandon Smith is urging Governor Andy Beshear to sign a death warrant for Ralph Baze, who was sentenced to death in 1994 for murdering two law enforcement officers. Three decades later, Baze remains in prison.
“Justice should be swift, it should be fair, but in the end, it needs to be carried out,” Smith said. He added that the governor must step up to fulfill his duties and that families of victims deserve closure.
Smith also emphasized the need for a more efficient process. “Nobody wants to see another person lose their life. Justice should be fair and it should be swift,” he said, calling the responsibility “one of the most difficult things any of us who take the oath of office ever have to encounter.”
During Thursday’s Team Kentucky update, ABC 36 News Now asked Governor Beshear about the senator’s request. Beshear explained that the Franklin Circuit Court’s previous order halted future executions until necessary regulations are in place. “That regulation is going through the process right now,” he said.
Smith countered that the regulation Beshear referenced does not apply to Baze’s case. He also noted that during the 2023 gubernatorial debate, Beshear expressed support for maintaining the death penalty for particularly heinous crimes. “The governor’s made these comments before, but now’s the time to find out if he’s really going to carry them out,” Smith said.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Comment