XPost: alt.law-enforcement, alt.activism.death-penalty, oh.general
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, sac.politics

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates
on Monday morning, including a man convicted of killing a Columbus police officer during a 2005 robbery.

The 37 people will have their death sentences reclassified from execution
to life without parole, according to a statement issued by the White
House. One of them is Daryl Lawrence, who was sentenced to death in the
killing of Columbus police officer Bryan Hurst.

Hurst, 33, was working special duty at the Fifth Third Bank at 6265 E.
Broad St. on Jan. 6, 2005, when Lawrence entered with a drawn handgun and killed the officer during an exchange of gunfire.

More:President Biden commutes sentences of most federal death row inmates

Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates.
The three whose sentences were not commuted were convicted of terrorism or hate-related mass murder.

Hurst has a surviving daughter and a widow, Marissa Gibson, who released a brief statement to The Dispatch saying she disagreed with Biden's
decision.

"While this is truly distressing news on a personal level for my family,
it also feels like a complete dismissal and undermining of the federal
justice system," Gibson said. "Lawrence's sentence was imposed by a jury,
and it should be upheld as such."

Donnie Oliverio, a retired police officer in Columbus who was Hurst's
partner and friend, told The Washington Post he supports the decision.

“'Putting to death the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace,” he said. “The President has done what is
right here, and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.'”

David DeVillers, a Columbus lawyer and former federal prosecutor who tried Lawrence's case, said he believes Lawrence deserved to remain on death
row. He said Lawrence planned to kill Hurst as part of the robbery.

"What we had to prove to get to the death specification is that he didn't
rob a bank and happen to kill a police officer," DeVillers said. "He
killed the officer with the purpose of going into the back of the bank
where the safe was ... and I think that's kind of a big difference."

Kort Gatterdam, who defended Lawrence at trial, said there has always been
a “black cloud” over the death sentence because the same jury issued a
life sentence for one count against Lawrence and a death sentence for
another.

During the appeal, the prosecution argued that the death sentence should
stand, while defense attorneys for Lawrence argued in favor of life in
prison. A jury for the appellate court ruled Lawrence should be put to
death.

Gatterdam said he supports the commutation.

"The death penalty has never been found to be a deterrent, and it's disproportionately used against African Americans," Gatterdam said. "We
applaud the president's decision."

The Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, which represents
local law enforcement, expressed outrage in a statement.

"The decision to commute the sentence of Daryl Lawrence is an inexcusable affront to the memory of Officer Bryan Hurst and the law enforcement
community as a whole," said Brian Steel, president of FOP Capital City
Lodge No. 9. "Bryan made the ultimate sacrifice, and this decision
undermines the justice that was rightfully served for his murder."

Biden faced pressure to commute sentences before Trump took office
Progressive lawmakers and criminal justice advocates had pressured the
outgoing Biden to commute federal death before President-elect Donald
Trump returned to office.

Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, called Biden's move a "historic and courageous step in addressing the failed death penalty in
the United States — bringing us much closer to outlawing the barbaric
practice once again."

Trump has pledged to expand the death penalty in his second term. Biden
said he would end the death penalty during his presidential campaign.

"Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of
their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss," Biden said in a statement released
after Monday's announcement, adding, "I am more convinced than ever that
we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level."

The Trump administration carried out 13 federal executions during his
first term, ending a 17-year hiatus. Of the 16 people executed for federal crimes since 1988, 13 were executed under Trump’s first term.

This post has been updated to include additional information.

bagallion@dispatch.com

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/12/23/biden-commutes-37- death-sentence-daryl-lawrence-bryan-hurst-columbus-cop-killer/77168818007/

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