Judge Unlikely to Remove Clemency Power from South Carolina Governor

Governor McMaster's role in Richard Moore's clemency review remains contested as execution date approaches.

Federal Judge Mary Geiger Lewis expressed reluctance to strip Governor Henry McMaster of his clemency authority in the case of death row inmate Richard Moore.
Moore's attorneys argue that McMaster, a former state attorney general, cannot impartially review the clemency petition due to his past involvement in Moore's prosecution.
Governor McMaster has agreed to submit a sworn statement affirming his commitment to a fair and impartial clemency review process.
The execution of Richard Moore, set for November 1, would be South Carolina's second execution since a 13-year hiatus due to drug availability issues for lethal injection.
Moore, on death row for a 1999 murder, has exhausted most legal avenues and seeks clemency as his final option, while his legal team continues to pursue appeals.