Bredesen Issues Executive Order No. 43 02/01/2007 Download more information now Governor Phil Bredesen issued Executive Order No. 43 today, and gave the following statement during a press conference at the State Capitol. Statement by Governor Phil Bredesen: “I think all of you know that I consider the responsibility of the state to carry out the death penalty among the very most serious responsibilities we have. “I am a supporter of the death penalty. I believe, in addition, that it is incumbent on the state to carry out these sentences constitutionally and appropriately. “In the process of preparing for litigation surrounding the lethal injection procedure used in our state, this is litigation in Judge Trauger’s Court, the office of the Attorney General and the staff of the Department of Correction have identified deficiencies with our written procedures that raise concerns that they are not adequate to preclude mistakes in the future. “I am convinced, and we’ve talked about this extensively, that the two executions that have been carried out in this state over the past decade, were carried out constitutionally and appropriately. There did not appear to be any difficulties with those executions. “In order to ensure that no cloud hangs over the state’s actions in the future, I have issued an executive order today that: "First of all, directs the Commissioner of Correction to initiate a comprehensive review of the manner in which death sentences are administered in Tennessee. It’s a comprehensive review, specifically including the state’s protocols and any related procedures, written or otherwise, related to the administration of the death sentence. And, in completing this review, have directed him to utilize all relevant and appropriate resources, including but not limited to scientific and medical experts, legal experts, and Correction professionals, both from within and outside of Tennessee, and also to research and perform an analysis of the best practices used by other states. "Number two, as soon as practical, but not later than May 2, 2007, the Commissioner of Correction is directed to establish and provide to me new protocols and related written procedures related to administering death sentences in Tennessee, both by lethal injection and electrocution. In addition, the Commissioner is directed to provide me with a report outlining the results of that review that has been performed. "And third of all, I have revoked the current procedures and related protocols, whether written or otherwise, related to the administration of death sentences in Tennessee. “By separate orders of reprieve, because of this, we will this day grant reprieves to four individuals, all of whom had sentences of death scheduled to be carried out within the next 90 days before May 2. These four reprieves will remain in place until May 2, 2007.” Following the Governor’s remarks, Attorney General Bob Cooper gave the following statement: “Our office will notify the appropriate courts immediately of these developments in the cases set for execution over the next 90 days. “Those cases affected include: State v. Daryl Keith Holton, scheduled to be executed Feb. 28, 2007; State v. Edward Jerome Harbison, scheduled for Feb. 22, 2007; State v. Michael Joe Boyd, scheduled for March 7, 2007. State v. Pervis Payne, set for April 11, 2007.”