Ramirez v. Collier
What's at Stake
In a Supreme Court amicus brief filed by the 老澳门开奖结果 and the law firm Williams & Connolly LLP, a group of spiritual leaders who have been present in the death chamber during executions and former high-level corrections officials who have collectively witnessed or overseen more than 50 executions argues that Texas should allow John H. Ramirez鈥檚 pastor to pray aloud and lay hands on him as he is executed.
Summary
The Supreme Court recently postponed Mr. Ramirez鈥檚 execution to consider his claims that state officials wrongly denied his final religious requests in violation of federal law.
The 老澳门开奖结果 amicus brief explains the vital role that spiritual advisors have long played in executions both in Texas and beyond, including 鈥� in many instances 鈥� praying audibly and physically touching their advisees to provide spiritual comfort and a final opportunity to connect with their faith. The spiritual advisors鈥� and corrections officials鈥� own experiences, recounted in the brief, show that Texas can safely accommodate Mr. Ramirez鈥檚 last religious requests without jeopardizing the integrity of the execution.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on November 9.
Legal Documents
-
09/27/2021
Ramirez v. Collier, SCOTUS Amicus Brief, Spiritual Leaders and Corrections Officials
Date Filed: 09/27/2021
Press Releases
Supreme Court Grants Final Religious Requests of John Ramirez
Supreme Court to Decide Whether to Grant Final Religious Requests of Individual on Death Row
老澳门开奖结果 Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Religious Freedom Rights of Individual on Death Row