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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe Public Meetings: March 9-13 Since You Asked: What are those wetland creatures in the creeks? Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Emergency services, March 8 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 8 Jackson County searchers looking for missing man Emergency services, March 7 Emergency services, March 6 Arkansas man arrested for robbery in Medford Politics and Elections Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Education Willow Wind students raise money for water District considers options to keep school tracks open, safe Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Ashland district rethinks transfer approval process MSD to save taxpayers nearly $10.5 million by refinancing Environment Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade State News Federal judge orders speedier Klamath wildlife refuge management plan Former Josephine County students sue school district over alleged abuse Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Eastern Oregon dig uncovers ancient stone tool Team tracks new baby orca Nation - World Obituaries Joseph Elsworth William "Les" Mason Irene Meredith Barbara Anne Knuth Wolfe Howard Johnson Jr. Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 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 Comets Cruise Spartans win series, advance to semis Washington stuns No. 13 Utah, 77-68 T-Wolves snap Blazers' win streak, 121-113 Gutches wins fourth title, leads SOU to second Varsity 541 College Sports Washington stuns No. 13 Utah, 77-68 Gutches wins fourth title, leads SOU to second Raider relay team second at nationals Colorado stuns No. 8 Oregon State Four Raiders in semis at NAIAs Pro Sports T-Wolves snap Blazers' win streak, 121-113 Lowly Philadelphia knocks off Atlanta Ace helps Holmes expand Doral lead Spartans cruise to playoff victory Morgan's goal sparks 3-0 U.S. win Community Sports Business Latest Stories Business briefs: March 7 Blog: A Few of Our Favorite Places New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Harry & David announces new president Real Estate News Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 8 George Will: Obama needs GOP to approve the TPP Dana Milbank: Hillary vs. Hillary Charles Krauthammer: Netanyahu's Churchillian warning Letters to the Editor, March 7 Editorials Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Take it slow on legal marijuana Our View: Small climate steps add up to big ones Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Other Views: Brown's list of challenges is lengthy Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 8 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 6 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Letters to the Editor, March 4 Columns George Will: Obama needs GOP to approve the TPP Dana Milbank: Hillary vs. Hillary Charles Krauthammer: Netanyahu's Churchillian warning Philip Maddocks: Homeland Security is prepared to let its protection of Congress run out after this week Matthew T. Mangino: Pennsylvania officials battle over possibility of rare execution Guest Opinions GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Lifestyle Latest stories Pet of the Week: Sunday, March 8 SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL: Beware the vacation club sales presentation 'Robotic Alice' as a future caregiver Growing Gardens, Growing Communities When silence gave way to noise Food Community blog: Airy mousse rivals ease of pudding from a box Page Onorato: Please don’t take my Goo Goo Clusters away Season Stepp: Celebrate Pi Day with these tasty pie recipes Tammy Kelly: Bring back the potatoes Pantry pride Home and Garden Dear Monty: Home seller seeks to start bidding war Paul Rogers: Looking for signs of new life Home Help: Enhance your home-office experience Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Dear Monty: Home seller questions agent ethics Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to help hoarders Dr. Jeff Hersh: Gallstones affect 25 percent of American women Health Watch: Get prepped for spring break HealthStyle: Marriage care and maintenance Community blog: How I Became Radical: The Power of Acceptance Hiking Biking Faith More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Live Music in Local Clubs Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Theater TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment Music ZEPDRIX! at the Historic Ashland Armory The Bee Eaters play Headwaters Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays the Craterian Theater Live Music in Local Clubs Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Dining Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... Our View: Driving voter turnout is no sure thing for Oregon ... Gold Hill mayor rethinking city hall cameras ... Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... Our View: Driving voter turnout is no sure thing for Oregon ... Gold Hill mayor rethinking city hall cameras ... Matthew T. Mangino: Pennsylvania officials battle over possibility of rare execution By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now MailTribune.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="2325,665" 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 MailTribune.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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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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