Top Pennsylvania Court: Governor Can Postpone Executions
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest court has upheld Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's authority to postpone executions in the state.
Wolf's office on Monday said he is pleased the Pennsylvania Supreme Court backed his constitutional authority to issue temporary reprieves in death penalty cases.
Prosecutors challenged Wolf's decision, saying reprieves had never been used to indefinitely delay an execution.
After becoming governor last year, Wolf has issued reprieves in the cases of five convicted killers, saying he's concerned about the fairness of the death penalty.
Pennsylvania last executed an inmate in 1999.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)