McDugle to Hold Study on Death Penalty Procedures

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, will hold an interim study next week focusing on death penalty practices and procedures.

The study will be held before the House Public Safety Committee. It begins at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to run until noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Room 206 at the state Capitol.

“The majority of Oklahoman’s agree with having the death penalty as an option,” McDugle said. “I just want to make sure that when we start the death penalty again that we are properly trained and that each individual we put to death is guilty and deserving.  Some of those on death row have new evidence in their cases since 2015, and we want to make sure all new evidence is looked at before we send someone to the chamber.”

Speaking on death penalty cases in Oklahoma will be:

• Don Knight, Death Row inmate Richard Glossip’s Attorney
• Craig Sutter, executive director of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System
• Christy Shepherd with the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission
• Bob Ravitz, Oklahoma County public defender

Speaking on the future of the death penalty in Oklahoma will be:

• Mike Hunter, Oklahoma attorney general
• Scott Crow, director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections
• Trent Baggett, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council
• Adam Luck, a member of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board