Georgia Criminal Justice

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.