“The allegations of ‘multiple violations of Oklahoma law’ is disturbing to say the least – especially considering that the policies proposed are just that – ‘proposed’ for discussion by the board,” Burget wrote, according to emails obtained by The Frontier. Burget wrote an email to McCall on June 5 saying he did not understand his complaints, including those about Bickley’s proposed policy changeson how clemency hearings are conducted. “Good luck to you and may the best man prevail.”īickley shared McCall’s email with the rest of the board and Burget, general counsel to the governor. “You have slapped the faces of murder victims and their families for the last time on my watch,” McCall wrote in a June 5 email. McCall told Bickley he was going to seek his termination and that he had “evidence of multiple violations of Oklahoma law by you and others,” although he never stated what evidence he had. In emails sent this month, McCall criticized Bickley for seeking additional opinions on the commutation question and threatened him with criminal accusations if he did not seek an opinion from Attorney General Mike Hunter. The board’s current attorney, Kyle Count, who joined the agency this year, also said he believed Jones was eligible for a commutation hearing. 8, 2019, in an email he shared with The Frontier. “Our office can find no authority that would permit the PPB to refuse to review and process such inmate’s commutation application,” Burget wrote on Nov. But Mark Burget, general counsel to the governor, told Bickley his interpretation of the rules led him to believe a commutation hearing should be scheduled for a death row inmate. Kevin Stitt’s office because of the high profile nature of the Jones case, according to multiple sources. The belief was that death row inmates can only receive a clemency hearing in the final weeks before their scheduled execution, not a commutation hearing at an earlier date.īickley notified Gov. When Jones applied for commutation last year, Bickley initially believed it was not allowed, which was the opinion of the outgoing attorney for the Pardon and Parole Board, according to an internal memo. His name has also been chanted by local protestors in recent weeks who have marched against systemic racism and police brutality. Bickley is the subject of an executive session discussion.”Ĭonvicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 2002, Jones has continued to claim he had nothing to do with the murder of an Edmond businessman.Ĭiting racial bias and ineffective legal counsel, Jones has received growing attention, including from celebrities and athletescalling for his conviction to be overturned. McCall told The Frontier he would not comment because “I think the email I sent to Mr. Last week, Bickley requested a leave of absence as director because of what he called McCall’s “threats to criminalize my public service,” according to an internal memo.īickley did not respond to a request for comment. The Frontier reported on June 9 that the state’s pardon and parole board asked Attorney General Mike Hunter to look into the possible commutation of a death sentence. “I will hold my nose and my tongue for a reasonable time in the spirit of cooperation, but rest assured that I am ready for battle at a moment’s notice,” McCall wrote in a June 7 email. Two days later, McCall told Bickley he would hold off on making criminal accusations against him if he took the commutation issue to the attorney general. I am going to request to appear in front of the multi-county grand jury ASAP before you and your anti-death penalty buddies can cause any more pain and heartache to victim’s families.” “Who is pulling the strings that hold you up? Perhaps the multi-county grand jury can look into that. “Your continual attempts to inject your personal anti-death penalty opinions on the policies of this board are frightening,” McCall wrote Bickley on June 5. McCall, a former district court judge for Cotton and Comanche counties, also criticized Bickley for suggesting changes to the clemency process that would have to be approved by the board. Steven Bickley, executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.
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