CLERGY AT EXECUTIONS
Alabama death row inmate Willie Smith has asked for a Christian pastor to be present with him to pray in the final moments of his life. But in 2019, the Alabama Department of Corrections banned clergy from being present during the executions. Now Smith’s case is going to the Supreme Court. Becket Law Senior Counsel Diana Verm said: “Until 2019, Alabama not only allowed but required clergy in the death chamber. That shows Alabama is less concerned about security than it is about litigation tactics.”