Just this morning, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commuted Sonny’s sentence to life without the possibility of parole.

In her statement, Governor Ivey said:
"I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not."

According to a statement from his lawyers, Burton thanked the governor for her decision.

“She has proven to the people of Alabama, and the world, that she is a responsible Governor. And I thank her. Just saying thank you doesn’t seem like much. But it’s what I can give her. And I do thank her," Burton said in the statement."

Join Julius and people across the country in acknowledging the significance of this moment. Governor Ivey has presided over dozens of executions during her time in office. This is only the second time she has commuted a death sentence.

This moment reminds us of the power of collective advocacy, prayer, and people refusing to stay silent.

As we experienced in Julius’s case, a conservative governor granting clemency is no small feat. We draw hope from this win and remain resolved to fight for Julius’s freedom as well as the abolition of the death penalty, for as long as the death penalty exists, there will always be a risk of executing an innocent person.

Thank you to everyone who took action for Sonny. More than 98,000 people signed petitions, sent letters, made calls, posted on social media, and sent prayers up for Sonny.

This movement is strong because you are a part of it.

With love and solidarity,

Antoinette Jones