Petition to Stop Execution in Utah

Salt Lake City, UT – The anti-capital punishment organization Death Penalty Action is set to present a petition to Governor Spencer Cox just hours before the scheduled execution of Taberon Honie. Honie, who has been on death row since 1999, is slated to be executed by lethal injection at midnight on Thursday. The group will hold a press conference at the Utah State Capitol Building before delivering the petition to the governor's office. Despite the urgency of the situation, Utah law stipulates that the governor does not possess the authority to commute or stay the sentences of death row inmates. This power lies with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, which conducted a commutation hearing for Honie in July but ultimately decided against granting him clemency. Governor Cox reaffirmed this decision on Tuesday by denying a temporary reprieve for Honie. The execution has sparked renewed discussions about the death penalty in Utah, with advocates arguing for its abolition and opponents emphasizing the moral implications of capital punishment. Death Penalty Action aims to raise awareness and rally support against the execution, highlighting the broader implications of the death penalty on society. As the clock ticks down to the execution, the actions of Death Penalty Action and the response from state officials will be closely monitored by both supporters and opponents of capital punishment in Utah and beyond.