Georgia parole board suspends Stacey Humphreys' execution, postpones clemency hearing
The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued an order suspending Stacey Humphreys’ execution scheduled for Wednesday and postponed his Tuesday clemency hearing “until further notice,” while the death warrant remains valid through noon Dec. 24 (after which a new warrant would be required). Humphreys had recently lost a bid for a federal stay and the U.S. Supreme Court declined his appeal; board member Kimberly McCoy agreed to abstain from voting (she may attend and ask questions), Wayne Bennett said he saw no conflict despite having been Glynn County sheriff during the trial, and the state argued a quorum of three can decide and the governor cannot appoint a temporary sixth member.
📌 Key Facts
- The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued an order suspending Stacey Humphreys' execution that had been scheduled for Wednesday; the board did not provide a reason for the suspension.
- The board also postponed Humphreys' clemency hearing "until further notice."
- The death warrant for Humphreys remains valid through noon on Dec. 24; a new warrant would be required for any execution after that date.
- Board member Kimberly McCoy agreed to abstain from voting (she may attend and ask questions but not vote), while board member Wayne Bennett said he sees no conflict despite having been Glynn County sheriff during the trial.
- State attorney Tina Piper argued the clemency application can be decided by a quorum of three and that the governor cannot appoint a temporary sixth board member under the state constitution.
- Earlier this week a federal judge denied Humphreys' request to stay his execution, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined his appeal in October.
- Georgia Department of Corrections had reported the execution was set for Wednesday at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson and that it would have been Georgia's first execution of the year; the DOC also detailed Humphreys' requested last meal (a buffet of BBQ, wings, cheeseburger, pizza and ice cream).
- State figures note 76 executions in Georgia since reinstatement of the death penalty; 32 men and one woman remain on the state's death row.
📊 Relevant Data
Since 1976, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles has granted clemency to only 10 death row inmates, with the last grant occurring in 2014.
Georgia Prisoner Jimmy Meders Granted Clemency Hours Ahead of Execution — American Bar Association
As of November 2025, Black inmates constitute 42.42% of Georgia's death row population (14 out of 33), while Black individuals make up approximately 31.34% of the state's overall population.
Inmate Statistical Profile — Georgia Department of Corrections
In 2019, in single-offender/single-victim homicides where races were known, 91% of Black victims were killed by Black offenders, and 81% of White victims were killed by White offenders.
Race and crime in the United States — Wikipedia
📰 Sources (3)
- The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued an order suspending Stacey Humphreys' execution scheduled for Wednesday; no reason was provided.
- The board postponed Humphreys' Tuesday clemency hearing "until further notice."
- The death warrant remains valid through noon on Dec. 24; a new warrant would be required after that.
- Board member Kimberly McCoy agreed to abstain from voting; she may attend and ask questions but not vote, per a board lawyer.
- Board member Wayne Bennett testified he sees no conflict despite his role as Glynn County sheriff during the trial.
- State attorney Tina Piper argued the application can be decided by a quorum of three and that the governor cannot appoint a temporary sixth member under the state constitution.
- A federal judge denied Stacey Humphreys’ request to stay his execution earlier this week.
- The U.S. Supreme Court declined his appeal in October.
- Georgia DOC says the execution is set for Wednesday at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson.
- This would be Georgia’s first execution of the year.
- Georgia DOC detailed Humphreys’ requested last meal menu.
- State figures: 76 executions in Georgia since reinstatement; 32 men and one woman remain on death row.