TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on May 5, 2020

Attorneys for 59-year-old Harold Nichols asked the Tennessee Supreme Court last week to delay his execution due to the COVID-19 threat, the Tennessean reports. The filing states the COVID-19 health crisis creates a dangerous environment for carrying out an execution and prevents necessary work and preparation to apply for clemency and pursue court challenges. The state Supreme Court has already postponed inmate Oscar Smith’s execution from June to February because of the virus threat. Byron Black has also asked to have his Oct. 8 execution delayed. The Dec. 3 execution date of Pervis Payne is the last execution Tennessee has scheduled.