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A message from Vera Thomas

My family and I wish to thank the Missouri Supreme Court for vacating our son Reginald Clemons’ convictions and sentences and remanding his case. I want to thank the Court for pursuing the path of due process in our son’s case and for the appointment of Judge Michael Manners as Special Master, and for the additional work done by Judge Lisa White Hardwick from the Missouri Court of Appeals sitting as a Special Judge of the Court. Our faith and confidence has been renewed in our judicial system.

- Vera Thomas, Reggie Clemons’s mother

Missouri supreme court rules to dismiss death row inmate's murder convictions

News coverage of the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision.

Missouri supreme court rules to dismiss death row inmate's murder convictions

Reggie Clemons’s convictions and sentences for first degree murder vacated

All of those who have worked tirelessly for justice on behalf of Reggie Clemons are simply thrilled by today’s opinion. Today the Missouri Supreme Court has upheld Mr. Clemons’s constitutional right to a fair trial, which is all he has sought from the beginning. We are deeply grateful for the Court’s decision, and its willingness to protect the Due Process rights of Mr. Clemons and citizens everywhere.

The Missouri Supreme Court’s decision can be found here.

New judge assigned to Reginald Clemons case

The Missouri Supreme Court has issued an order assigning Judge Lisa White Hardwick as a special judge, along with the 6 other Missouri Supreme Court judges, to decide Reggie’s case.

Read more about this development here.

End of the Year Campaign Update

As 2014 comes to close, the Justice for Reggie Campaign observes its 9th year of dedicated effort to shine a spotlight on Reggie’s case as an example of the glaring flaws in the capital punishment system. Many of us have a track record from before 2005 of working on Reggie’s 1993 case, and will continue working until the end of the death penalty in Missouri.

We must double our efforts to abolish the death penalty. Here we are—months after the Special Master’s findings were submitted to the Missouri Supreme Court—and we still have no news about Reggie’s future. So, our work must continue.

Meanwhile, the State of Missouri hardly missed a beat with the execution of inmates this year. Herbert Smulls, Michael Taylor, Jeffrey Ferguson, William Rousan, John Winfield, John Middleton, Michael Worthington, Earl Ringo, Jr., Leon Taylor and Paul Goodwin all were executed in 2014. Only Russell Bucklew’s execution was stayed due to medical reasons. This is almost one execution per month—a sad state of affairs for Missouri. We lift up their names, a swe also remember their victims and their loved ones.

In the last several months, the St. Louis region has experienced an upsurge in justice-seeking citizens working towards a new vision that truly honors all life and human rights. Abolishment of the death penalty fits into their demand to end state-sanctioned killings. This movement is bigger than young Mike Brown.

Join us in re-committing our lives and resources to end the death penalty and loudly declare, “Enough is enough!”

Campaign update for week of August 25, 2014

Reggie has a birthday coming up on Saturday; he will be 43 years old. We ask that you wear green on August 30 (the color of the Campaign), a Reggie button or tee shirt to remind others that he is still on Death Row. For those who’d like to celebrate Reggie’s birthday with the Infrared Rockers band, you can join them at Reggae Nites on Saturday at the Rowan Community Center, 1401 Rowan Avenue (63112). Tickets are $7 in advance, $9 at the door.