Wow!  By now you may well be aware that Michael Taylor remains among the living, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court decision last night, ordering a federal appeals court to consider whether Missouri’s lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. 

What wonderful news, yet what a helluva horrific (tortuous, “cruel and unusual”) emotional rollercoaster for Michael’s family-- having lived for more than 15 years with a death sentence, then with the uncertainty of how much longer he would live. The Missouri Supreme Court had set 12:01 am, Wednesday as the time he could be executed. State officials had the legal “right” to kill anytime during the day yesterday. There had been several court stays in his execution, until the 6-3 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court late last night, denying a request by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office to allow state officials to kill Michael. New Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito voted with the majority for the stay. 

I went to bed and spend the first hours of this morning, sadly assuming he had been killed. At about 7:00 pm last night I spoke with Bonne Terre prison officials who told me Michael was to be executed at 8:00. I called the Taylors to express my sadness at the state’s actions, then soon after at about 8:15, I went to bed, having been up all the day before. I left Bonne Terre around 2:00 am yesterday. Linda and George Taylor, Michael’s parents along with is sisters were at a hotel there, overjoyed they’d be going to sleep knowing Michael was still alive. A federal court had intervened and at least temporarily stayed the execution until a hearing to consider the constitutionality of Missouri’s lethal injection system would take place yesterday at noon (the judges apparently ruled the process was constitutional, then the legal-papers blizzard began anew). Rita Linhardt and I, in consultation with other leading activists with Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP), initiated a mass e-mailing to Missourians and others around the country to urge Gov. Blunt to commute his death sentence, on the merits of his case and out of respect both for the recent passing of Coretta Scott King and the King family legacy, one of compassion, love, forgiveness and opposition to the death penalty—despite the murders of her husband Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her father. Thanks to the contact you may have made with the governor’s office. 

This morning, as I dropped my daughter off at school, some other parents asked me how I was doing. I expressed my sadness about Michael’s violent passing, then got to the office/home and the computer, and learned of the good news. Michael was apparently transferred back to the Potosi prison this morning. We will update you with what we learn, regarding the hearing on this issue plus other developments. Thanks to God (the Great Spirit or whatever higher presence you may believe in), the US Supreme Court (including Judge Alito) and John Simon-- Michael’s attorney who’s been criss-crossing the state during these past few weeks and who’s been particularly and insanely busy the last few days in a furious flurry of work! 

You can check on developments and back reports at the Missourinet site http://www.missourideathrow.com/. 

Peace and best wishes,

Jeff Stack, coordinator

Mid-MO Fellowship of Reconciliation

573-449-4585