TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jun 12, 2020

The Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered a stay of execution for Byron Black until April 8, 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessean reports. Black’s execution had been scheduled for Oct. 8. Black was convicted of the 1988 murders of his girlfriend, Angela Clay, and her two daughters, Latoya and Lakeisha Clay in Nashville. Black's legal team filed a motion in April to stay the execution, saying the court and prison safety measures expected to continue into the summer would affect their ability to adequately prepare for hearings in advance of the execution date. A hearing to determine Black’s competency originally was set for mid-August. It will now be rescheduled for early next year.