News & Commentary
Ending Indefinite Solitary Confinement for the Vast Majority of People with Death Sentences in Oklahoma
By Travis Handler
Latest Event
Kendrick Simpson's Clemency Hearing
Kendrick Simpson Clemency Hearing with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 9:00 am. Mr. Simpson is scheduled for execution on February 12, 2026.
The clemency hearing is open to the public. You can attend in person or watch online via zoom. We highly encourage attendance in person as a show of support for Kendrick and his loved ones.
Attendance Information and Guidelines:
- Clemency hearings typically run a bit over two hours. Each side's counsel has 40 minutes, the victim's family has 20 minutes, and the person who is incarcerated has 20 minutes. The Pardon and Parole Board can ask questions and discuss before voting.
- Arrive early (15 minutes or more) to go through security and get a seat before the hearing begins.
- You should bring your ID with you to sign in.
- Cell phones are prohibited. You should not be on your phone or take any pictures during the hearing.
Zoom Information:
Web Address: https://doc-ok.zoomgov.com/j/1605301615
Webinar ID: 160 530 1615
Call: 1 669 254 5252 or +1 669 216 1590
For more info click here.
The Equality Network and ACLU of Oklahoma’s Statements in Response to the YMCA of Greater OKC’s Decision to Create More Inclusive Family Membership Policy
Okla
By Bryan Newell
Governor Fallin's Proposed Investigation Is Not Independent
Oklahoma City--Shortly after the botched execution of Clayton Lockett, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma called for a moratorium on all executions in Oklahoma pending a complete and independent investigation into the botched execution and the events leading up to the fundamental breakdown in the state’s execution process.
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of Oklahoma’s Statement in Response to Tuesday Night’s Botched Execution in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City--In response to the botched execution of Clayton Lockett, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has issued the below statements and is immediately calling for a full and open investigation into the execution. The ACLU of Oklahoma is also calling for an immediate moratorium on all executions pending the outcome of this investigation and for full and complete transparency regarding the execution process in Oklahoma.
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of Oklahoma wins appeal of Judge’s Decision to Deny Name Change to Transgender Applicants
By Bryan Newell
Media Advisory: ACLU of Oklahoma files for Summary Judgment in Open Records Lawsuit
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of OK Names Plaintiffs in Bishop v. Oklahoma Case 2013 Angie Debo Civil Liberties Recipients
OKLAHOMA CITY-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has announced that the four plaintiffs in the Bishop v. Oklahoma lawsuit--Mary Bishop, Sharon Baldwin, Susan Barton, and Gay Phillips--will receive the Angie Debo Civil Liberties Award for their long and potentially landmark fight against Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage. The reception will be held in the Bell Court Room at the University of Oklahoma Law School on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of Oklahoma Joins Amicus Brief in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, along with the ACLU and the ACLU of Pennsylvania, have filed a friend of the court brief urging the United States Supreme Court to reject the claim that a corporation can use religion as a justification to discriminate against women by refusing to make coverage for contraception available as required by federal law. The ACLU’s brief discusses the history of attempts to invoke religion to trump anti-discrimination measures to explain that such attempts are not new, and such attempts have been consistently rejected by the courts since the civil rights movement.
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By Bryan Newell
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