Full List of 37 Death Row Commutations And Who Was Not Commuted?

Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences

President Joe Biden made a historic move by commuting the sentences of 37 federal death row prisoners, marking a significant shift in the United States’ stance on capital punishment under his administration. This action is consistent with Biden's campaign promises to reduce the use of the death penalty at the federal level. While the decision was lauded by human rights advocates, it also raised questions about the future of federal executions and what this means for those still facing the ultimate punishment.

In this article, we’ll delve into the full list of the 37 individuals whose death sentences were commuted, explore their backgrounds and crimes, and discuss the three individuals who notably did not receive clemency.

Who is not commuted by Biden?

President Joe Biden did not commute the sentences of three men involved in some of the most notorious cases of terrorism and hate-fueled mass murder in recent U.S. history.

These individuals include Robert Bowers, convicted for the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where 11 worshippers were killed in a hate-driven attack targeting the Jewish community.

Another is Dylann Roof, found guilty of the 2015 massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine Black parishioners were murdered during a Bible study session. Roof's actions were fueled by white supremacist ideologies.

The third is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured over 260 in a coordinated act of terrorism carried out with his brother.

Biden’s decision to exclude these individuals underscores his administration’s approach to balancing opposition to the death penalty with accountability for heinous acts of violence. By leaving their sentences intact, Biden acknowledged the gravity of their crimes and the ongoing pain suffered by victims’ families. This decision highlights the complexities of federal clemency, even as the administration advocates for an end to capital punishment.

Profiles of Notable Individuals on the Commuted List

President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of several notable federal death row inmates, converting their punishments to life imprisonment without parole. Among these individuals are:

Len Davis: A former New Orleans police officer, Davis was convicted in 1994 for orchestrating the murder of Kim Groves, a local resident who had filed a brutality complaint against him. Davis enlisted a hitman to carry out the killing, leading to his death sentence.

Brandon Council: In 2017, Council was convicted of the murders of Donna Major and Kathryn Hawkins during a bank robbery in Conway, South Carolina. He claimed that "demons" were controlling people's minds, reflecting potential mental health issues considered during his commutation.

Billie Jerome Allen: Allen was sentenced to death for his involvement in a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, Missouri, during which a security guard, Richard Heflin, was fatally shot. Throughout his incarceration, Allen maintained his innocence and actively campaigned for his release.

Full List of 37 Federal Death Row Prisoners Commuted by Biden

During Donald Trump’s presidency, there were 13 federal executions—the highest number under any president in modern history. These were the first federal executions since 2003, and several were expedited in a manner that potentially contributed to the spread of COVID-19 at the federal death row facility in Indiana. Notably, the final three executions took place after the November 2020 election but before Trump left office, marking the first instance of a lame-duck president overseeing federal executions since Grover Cleveland in 1889.

President Joe Biden has faced mounting pressure from advocacy groups to ensure that his successor cannot expand the use of federal capital punishment. His recent announcement to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates reflects this commitment. This decision follows a wave of clemency acts, including the commutation of sentences for approximately 1,500 individuals placed on home confinement during the pandemic and 39 others convicted of nonviolent offenses, making it the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

Biden’s move comes amid broader discussions of presidential pardons. Earlier this year, he issued a controversial pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, over federal gun and tax charges, drawing significant political backlash. This action has sparked debates about whether Biden might issue preemptive pardons for allies and administration officials who could face legal challenges under a future Trump administration.

Speculation about federal death sentence commutations grew after the White House announced Biden’s upcoming visit to Italy, where he will meet Pope Francis. The Pope, a vocal opponent of the death penalty, recently called for prayers for U.S. death row inmates, amplifying hopes that Biden, a practicing Catholic, might take decisive action against capital punishment during his presidency’s final months.

This comprehensive list reflects the individuals whose sentences were reduced to life imprisonment without parole as part of President Biden's clemency actions. Each inmate's case represents complex legal and ethical considerations that contributed to this historic decision.