ÌÇÐÄVlog

The First Amendment guarantees the public and the press the right to witness certain government proceedings – including public executions. On August 25, 2014, the ÌÇÐÄVlogand the ÌÇÐÄVlogof Oklahoma filed a lawsuit arguing that this right was violated during the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of The Guardian and The Oklahoma Observer, whose journalists were deprived the right to view and fully report on the execution.

Manuel Velez, an innocent man, was released from a Texas prison today after almost nine years behind bars, four on death row. Rather than risk a new trial that could be plagued with the same problems that sent him to death row, Velez, an ÌÇÐÄVlogclient, pleaded no contest to a lesser charge.

The ÌÇÐÄVlog filed a request for precautionary measures with the Organization of American States' Inter-American Commission on Human Rights showing that the execution of John Winfield, scheduled for June 18, 2014 in the state of Missouri, will cause irreparable harm should it go forward. The ÌÇÐÄVlogasks that the executions be stayed until the IACHR can review and rule on the ACLU's petition that alleges Mr. Winfield's death sentence violates international law. On June 6, 2014, the IACHR granted ÌÇÐÄVlogrequest for precautionary measures against the United States and requested that "the Government of the United States to abstain from executing John Winfield until the IACHR has ruled on the merits of the individual petition filed on his behalf."