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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Jackson County voters approve pot tax 'Tis the season: Growers market reopens ASHLAND: Oak Knoll to host free FootGolf event AGING HAPPENS: Ashland synagogue hosts screening of Chopra film Oregon leader Dave Frohnmayer dies at age 74 Education Willow Wind students raise money for water Getting its balancing act together Pulling strings for youth music education Bee college takes to the air Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Politics and elections Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries William F. Christofferson Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Ramona G. (Austin) Fletcher Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential No. 10 SOU women brace for national tourney breakfast bracket ASHLAND: Oak Knoll to host free FootGolf event Fantasy Sports: There are plenty of quality producers at third Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals High school Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Southern Oregon University No. 10 SOU women brace for national tourney breakfast bracket Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals SOU's Maguin advances to 400 final Gimme a break Fourth-ranked Raiders, Gutches try to make noise at NAIA nationals Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Letters to the Editor, March 11 Landgren cartoon: Farewell to circus elephants Landgren cartoon: Potholes Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Editorial Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Our View: Spelling out safety Our View: Our View: A growing concern Letters Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Letters to the Editor, March 4 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Columns Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Council Corner: Solar power in Ashland's future Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Review: OSF keeps the comedy afloat in 'Much Ado' Music Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies AGING HAPPENS: Ashland synagogue hosts screening of Chopra film Laid-back Liam Neeson and Ed Harris get vicious in ‘Run All Night’ Pop Culture Notebook: ‘Community,’ ‘Avengers’ and ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ on the horizon Antionette Kerr: Nimoy’s legacy lives on in ‘Star Trek’ Movie review: ‘Chappie’ is charming sci-fi with a violent edge Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories 5 Things to Do This Weekend (March 13-15) Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Lost in Suburbia: Fifty shades of dirty dog Dave Ramsey: The problem with being impulsive AGING HAPPENS: Ashland synagogue hosts screening of Chopra film Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Scenic Bikeway is another way to put Ashland on the map ... Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well ... Jackson County voters approve pot tax ... Our View: Scenic Bikeway is another way to put Ashland on the map ... Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well ... Jackson County voters approve pot tax ... Matthew T. Mangino: Pennsylvania officials battle over possibility of rare execution By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Mar. 6, 2015 @ 6:27 am By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Mar. 6, 2015 @ 6:27 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case filed by Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams challenging Gov. Tom Wolf’s so-called “moratorium” on executions. Last month, Wolf imposed the moratorium by granting a reprieve to Terrance Williams, who was scheduled to die on March 4, 2015. Wolf has pledged to continue the moratorium by granting a reprieve to every inmate scheduled for execution until the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Committee on Capital Punishment completes its report. The governor’s legal authority exists pursuant to Article IV, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The governor has exclusive authority to grant reprieves and may exercise that authority for any reason. Although there has not been an execution in Pennsylvania in 15 years and that was unlikely to change even without the governor’s intervention, Williams sought the King’s Bench authority of the Supreme Court to intervene. King’s Bench power is a 12th-century legal authority the Legislature bestowed in 1722 on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The now codified authority provides the Supreme Court “[M]ay . . . in any matter . . . involving an issue of immediate public importance, assume plenary jurisdiction of such matter at any stage thereof and enter a final order or otherwise cause right and justice to be done.” The Philadelphia district attorney has suggested that Wolf’s action was beyond the governor’s authority. The filing with the Supreme Court makes a point to emphasize, “Merely characterizing conduct by the governor as a reprieve does not make it so.” The prosecutor’s petition goes on to argue, “The current act of the governor is not a reprieve. Nor, indeed, could it be. There is no remaining legal remedy available to defendant. He received exhaustive state and federal review. He sought pardon or commutation and it was denied. There is nothing legitimate left to pursue and no remedy to wait for.” The governor’s response, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, provides “The governor has ‘exclusive authority’ and ‘unfettered discretion to grant a reprieve after imposition of sentence and on a case by case basis.’ ” The response also notes that there is no time limitation included in the Constitution for how long a reprieve might last, meaning the governor may issue a reprieve as he sees fit. Prosecutors asked the Supreme Court to take the case on an expedited basis. Citing Pennsylvania case law, prosecutors argued where a case is “one of significant public importance” Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court may grant a request for “an advanced briefing schedule and expedited disposition.” The court refused. The case will be heard on a regular court schedule, providing both sides with the opportunity argue whether the court should even taken up the matter, as well as the parties’ positions regarding the underlying dispute. “Issues of gubernatorial discretion are really uncharted water in Pennsylvania,” Bruce Ledewitz, a professor at Duquesne University School of Law, told WESA-FM of Pittsburgh. “If this were at the federal level, there were a lot of ways the president could do this, but the governor in Pennsylvania doesn’t have the kind of authority that the president of the United States has,” Ledewitz said. “We just haven’t structured our executive power the same way under our state constitution. We have fractured the executive power and we have limited it in lots of ways.” There are approximately 186 men and women on Pennsylvania’s death row. Some of those condemned prisoners has been sitting there for more than 30 years. That won’t change anytime soon. University of Pittsburgh law professor John Burkoff told the Post-Gazette, “It will probably be more than a year before any decision is reached.” He said it could take even longer if the court decides to wait for the input of two new justices, who will be elected this fall. Matthew T. Mangino is of counsel with Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelly & George P.C. His book “The Executioner’s Toll, 2010” was released by McFarland Publishing. You can reach him at www.mattmangino.com and follow him on Twitter at @MatthewTMangino. By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Mar. 6, 2015 @ 6:27 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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