Oklahoma court approves execution of man for kidnapping and killing

In Oklahoma, an appeals court on June 11, 2025, lifted a temporary stay of execution for John Fitzgerald Hanson, who has been on death row for the murder of Mary Bowles in 1999. Hanson, now 61 years old, had been scheduled to receive a lethal injection but had his execution paused by a district court due to allegations of an unfair clemency hearing. His attorneys contended that a member of the state’s Pardon and Parole Board had conflicts of interest that affected the fairness of the 3-2 vote against recommending clemency. Despite these claims, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the district court judge lacked the authority to impose the stay and characterized the temporary measure as unprecedented and unwarranted. The court pointed out that even if the member's vote was disregarded, there would still be no tie to advocate for clemency. This clarification led to the lifting of the stay, allowing the execution to be resumed. The legal disputes surrounding Hanson’s case extend beyond state court proceedings. He currently has a separate appeal pending before the United States Supreme Court, alleging that prosecutors failed to disclose critical information about a crucial witness to his defense team during the trial. This claim could potentially impact the legitimacy of the conviction and subsequent sentencing if upheld by the Supreme Court. Hanson's case arises from a horrific incident where he, alongside an accomplice, kidnapped Mary Bowles from a shopping mall in Tulsa, Oklahoma, leading to her brutal murder. This crime, coupled with Hanson's history of unrelated federal convictions, established details that played significant roles in his sentencing to death. The complexity of legal battles, amid public scrutiny, reflects ongoing discussions about the death penalty, clemency processes, and the rights of defendants under U.S. law.