In new court filing, Wolf defends death-row reprieves

    In a new court filing, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he has nearly unlimited power to grant reprieves to death row inmates, and he’s urged the state Supreme Court to deny a challenge to his use of that authority.

    Wolf’s lawyers responded Tuesday to a request by Attorney General Kathleen Kane that the justices nullify his moratorium on executing inmates.

    Wolf said the legal issues raised by Kane’s office in the case of convicted murderer Hubert Lester Michael Jr. are similar to those already pending before the Supreme Court in another reprieve being challenged by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams.

    Wolf has asked the court to deny the attorney general’s petition or put it on hold until the Philadelphia case is heard. Oral argument in that matter is scheduled for September.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal