A judge in the US state of Georgia has issued a temporary halt to a scheduled execution, raising significant questions about the fairness of the state's clemency process. The ruling centres on claims that two members of the parole board possess conflicts of interest that could compromise the proceedings.
Last-Minute Reprieve and Legal Challenge
Stacey Humphreys, aged 52, was due to be executed by lethal injection on 17 December 2025. However, the procedure was paused just days before it was set to occur. This latest judicial order, filed on Monday 29 December by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, extends that pause indefinitely.
Humphreys was convicted for the 2003 malice murders of two real estate agents, Cyndi Williams, 33, and Lori Brown, 21, at their office in Cobb County, northwest of Atlanta. Despite the gravity of the crime, his legal team has successfully argued that his path to clemency is flawed.
Core Allegations of Board Bias
The defence petition, filed earlier in December, calls for two members of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to recuse themselves from Humphreys' clemency hearing. The lawyers allege clear conflicts of interest that could prejudice the outcome.
They state that one board member, Kimberly McCoy, previously worked as a victim advocate in the Cobb County district attorney's office during Humphreys' original trial. In that role, she was specifically assigned to work with the victims' families in this case.
Furthermore, they claim another member, Wayne Bennett, was the sheriff of Glynn County at the time of the trial, which had been moved there due to pretrial publicity. The defence asserts Sheriff Bennett was responsible for overseeing security for both the jurors and Humphreys himself throughout the legal proceedings.
Judge's Order and Next Steps
In his written order, Judge McBurney stated that "pressing 'pause' on the execution machinery" was the correct action until the serious questions about the board's composition are resolved. He emphasised that Humphreys deserves a thorough examination of the conflict-of-interest issue.
The judge has ordered lawyers from both sides to file additional legal briefs on the matter by 19 January 2026. This will allow for a full argument on whether a parole board free of perceived conflicts must be assembled to fairly consider Humphreys' plea for clemency.
This development underscores the ongoing legal complexities surrounding capital punishment in the United States, where procedural fairness is continually scrutinised. The case will now focus on the integrity of the clemency process itself before any further steps towards execution can be taken.
