Opinion
2022-05-05-01 Civil Action 2021-CP-40-02306
05-05-2022
RE: Freddie Eugene Owens, Brad Keith Sigmon, Gary Dubose Terry, and Richard Charles Moore, Plaintiffs, v. Bryan P. Stirling, in his official capacity as the Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, South Carolina Department of Corrections, and Henry D. McMaster, in his official capacity as Governor of South Carolina, Defendants.
Donald J. Zelenka, Esquire W. Edgar Salter, III, Esquire Robert Michael Dudek, Esquire Susan Barber Hackett, Esquire Alan McCrory Wilson, Esquire Lindsey Sterling Vann, Esquire Hannah Lyon Freedman, Esquire John H. Blume, III, Esquire Melody Jane Brown, Esquire Whitney Boykin Harrison, Esquire h 2 Gerald Donovan Malloy, Esquire Salley W. Elliott, Esquire Emily C. Paavola, Esquire Megan Elizabeth Barnes, Esquire Joshua Snow Kendrick, Esquire Melissa Jane Armstrong, Esquire Brendon MathewVan Winkle, Esquire Elizabeth Anne Franklin-Best, Esquire Barton Jon Vincent, Esquire
Donald J. Zelenka, Esquire
W. Edgar Salter, III, Esquire
Robert Michael Dudek, Esquire
Susan Barber Hackett, Esquire
Alan McCrory Wilson, Esquire
Lindsey Sterling Vann, Esquire
Hannah Lyon Freedman, Esquire
John H. Blume, III, Esquire
Melody Jane Brown, Esquire
Whitney Boykin Harrison, Esquire h 2
Gerald Donovan Malloy, Esquire
Salley W. Elliott, Esquire
Emily C. Paavola, Esquire
Megan Elizabeth Barnes, Esquire
Joshua Snow Kendrick, Esquire
Melissa Jane Armstrong, Esquire
Brendon MathewVan Winkle, Esquire
Elizabeth Anne Franklin-Best, Esquire
Barton Jon Vincent, Esquire
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
Donald W. Beatty, Chief Justice
In this civil action currently pending before the Honorable Jocelyn Newman, Plaintiffs raise claims about all three methods of execution set forth in section 24-3-530 of the South Carolina Code (Supp. 2021). Because this action could determine whether Plaintiffs' executions would be lawful, the stays of execution issued in State v. Sigmon (Appellate Case No. 2002-024388), State v. Moore (Appellate Case No. 2001-021895), and State v. Terry (Appellate Case No. 1997-006197) shall remain in effect pending resolution of this action, including any appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court taken from Judge Newman's decision. The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed not to issue a notice of execution for Freddie Eugene Owens prior to the resolution of this action.
Judge Newman shall, within ninety days of the date of this order, complete the trial in this action. Within thirty days after completion of the trial, Judge Newman shall issue a decision in this action.