HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf is declaring victory in a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on his authority to postpone executions. Wolf’s office said Monday that he is pleased the state’s high court has upheld his constitutional authority to issue temporary reprieves in death penalty cases. Prosecutors challenged Wolf’s decision, saying reprieves had never been used to indefinitely delay an execution.
After becoming governor last year, Wolf began issuing reprieves to convicted killers, saying he’s concerned about the fairness of the death penalty. The courts had not posted the decision before making it available to the governor’s office, and the courts could not immediately provide a copy.
