PETITION CLOSED

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Stop the Execution of Gregory Wilson
  1. Signatures
    100 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Gov. Steve Beshear (KY)
  2. Created By
    Matt Kelley
    New Haven, CT
About this Petition Petition Letter

Kentucky is set to execute Gregory Wilson on September 16, despite glaring flaws in the trial that sent him to death row more than two decades ago. Among other problems, Wilson mostly represented himself at trial, because his lawyer -- whose business card listed his address at a bar -- failed to show up for most of the trial. Wilson's co-defendant, who testified that she helped him commit a robbery and murder, was shuttled down the hallway after court each day to have sex with a judge.

Legal experts have called the case a travesty of justice, and Kentucky is set to make an example of a man who was convicted without adequate representation. Sign the petition below to urge Gov. Steve Beshear to commute Wilson's sentence before Kentucky strikes another blow against the illusion of justice.

Recent Signatures

Stop the Execution of Gregory Wilson

Greetings,

I’m writing to urge you to stop the scheduled execution of Gregory Wilson, who was sent to Kentucky’s death row after a sham of a trial and has never had a fair hearing in a court of law.

The United States is a beacon of justice in the world, but this reputation suffers serious damage by cases like Wilson’s. If you allow this execution to go forward, the perception of fairness and justice in Kentucky -- and nationwide -- will be forever tarnished.

Wilson was convicted and sentenced to death after a trial in which he mostly represented himself at trial, because his lawyer -- whose business card listed his address at a bar -- failed to show up for most of the trial. Wilson’s co-defendant, who testified that she helped him commit a robbery and murder, was shuttled down the hallway after court each day to have sex with a judge. The list of serious problems with his trial goes on.

Gov. Beshear, would you trust your life to the attorney who represented Wilson? Does Wilson deserve a less zealous and able advocate than you or I would have if we faced a trial?
If you answer no to either of these questions, I believe you must commute Wilson’s execution.

The people of Kentucky should look to the state’s courts as an impartial and ardent seeker of truth and justice. No man or woman deserves less than another in the eyes of the court. When we allow a defendant to be executed because he received substandard representation at trial, our system of justice has failed. Please don’t let this happen.

Thank you for your attention to this case and your concern for fair justice in Kentucky.

[Your name]

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