Comptroller Green urges Gov. Nixon to review Clemons case

Today St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green formally requested that Governor Jay Nixon grant clemency to Reginald Clemons and order a review of Clemons' case. You may download a copy of her signed letter. The text is as follows:

Dear Governor Nixon,

Please consider this letter a formal request for you to immediately grant Mr. Reginald Clemons clemency. I believe that in the interest of justice, Mr. Clemons’ case should be thoroughly reviewed by your office.

Each and every Missourian deserves and expects all the protections the law allows. In this particular case, it appears Mr. Clemons is not being afforded his Constitutional right of due process. In fact, he currently is party to an appeal in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that may provide additional information as to the facts of his case.

I find it unconscionable that a citizen in the great state of Missouri would be executed while his appeal is still pending and without fully exhausting due process. When signing the order to execute a human being, in this case Reginald Clemons, the onus is on the Governor to ensure that justice is being served in accordance with the State Constitution and all applicable laws. I and many others fear that this is not the case in the matter of Reginald Clemons.

Again, I implore you to immediately grant Mr. Reginald Clemons clemency until you have thoroughly reviewed his case and all due process rights have been afforded to our fellow Missourian.

Sincerely,
Darlene Green
Comptroller

Clemons is scheduled to be executed by the State of Missouri on June 17, though (as I have previously reported) he has an appeal pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 8th District and a request to that court for a stay of execution until his appeal is adjudicated.