TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Apr 21, 2022

Gov. Bill Lee has issued a temporary reprieve in the execution of Oscar Franklin Smith roughly one hour before he was set to die by lethal injection, the Tennessean reports. “Due to an oversight in preparation for lethal injection, the scheduled execution of Oscar Smith will not move forward tonight. I am granting a temporary reprieve while we address Tennessee Department of Correction protocol," a statement from the governor's office indicated. Further details on what the oversight was were not immediately available. No word on when the reprieve would end. The Tennessee Supreme Court will select his next execution date.