Controversial Johnson v. Missouri Calling for New Pleas from Pope
In Missouri, Ernest Johnson awaits his fate after pleas from the pope, two Democratic U.S. Representatives, and thousands of petitioners to dismiss death row.
In 1994, Johnson was convicted of robbery and homicide of three convenience store workers. For more details, click here.
At 61 years old, Johnson has been sentenced to death row three times. Due to Johnson’s health issues, his lawyer argued that Missouri’s lethal injection drug is even more dangerous to Johnson because it triggers seizures due to lost brain tissue. The second time Johnson was sentenced to death in 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the execution unconstitutionally cruel on a mentally ill person. However, in 2006 Johnson was sentenced for the third time.
In a letter to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Pope Francis “wishes to place before you the simple fact of Mr. Johnson’s humanity and the sacredness of all human life.”
When I say we can’t support the death penalty for anyone—even those we most despise—it’s because it’ll then be imposed on people like Ernest Johnson. Missing 20% of his brain. Intellectually disabled. Brain function of a 5 year old. Missouri is going to murder this man tomorrow. https://t.co/jPnLy3hyCR pic.twitter.com/NXwb1DpiAd
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) October 5, 2021
In addition, Pope Francis’ changed church teaching to explain capital punishment can not sanction because it attacks human dignity. The pope has made many efforts to intervene in Missouri execution and has persuaded Governor Mel Carnahan in 1999 to grant clemency to an inmate on death row.
Johnson’s lawyer, Jeremy Weis, also argued death row would violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits executing intellectually disabled people. After taking several IQ tests and mental exams, results prove Johnson to have an intellectual capacity of a five-year-old.
When I say we can’t support the death penalty for anyone—even those we most despise—it’s because it’ll then be imposed on people like Ernest Johnson. Missing 20% of his brain. Intellectually disabled. Brain function of a 5 year old. Missouri is going to murder this man tomorrow. https://t.co/jPnLy3hyCR pic.twitter.com/NXwb1DpiAd
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) October 5, 2021
Also, Weis argued Johnson was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and does not have one-fifth of his brain tissue after removing a benign tumor in 2008. This brain defect could cause an even greater effect when adding the lethal injection drug.
Johnson asked for an alternative way to execute; however, Missouri refused. Unfortunately, Governor Parson scheduled Johnson for lethal injection on October 5, 2021. Weis made one more plea to the high court for an extended time to consider more questions about Johnson’s mental disabilities. The only remaining “hail mary” for Johnson would be the U.S. Supreme Court ruling it unconstitutional.
Former Governor Bob Holden wrote, “None of this excuses what Johnson did. But if our state is to be guided by the rule of law, we must temper our understandable anger with reason and compassion for the most vulnerable among us, including Ernest Johnson.”
U.S. Representative Cori Bush of St. Louis argues against Johnson’s sentence, including, “In Missouri, the killers of white victims are 7-times more likely to receive the death penalty than the killers of Black victims. The death penalty is a tool that perpetuates racialized violence.” She adds that Black and Latino men are more likely to face the death penalty, and executing someone mentally disabled is even more horrific.
In Missouri, the killers of white victims are 7-times more likely to receive the death penalty than the killers of Black victims.
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 5, 2021
The death penalty is a tool that perpetuates racialized violence.
It needs to be abolished. Ernest Johnson must not be executed. https://t.co/Ac9uyK2qj2
Many are taking to Twitter to share their opinions about whether or not Ernest Johnson should be sentenced to lethal injection.
The death penalty is gravely immoral in almost everyway and the planned execution of Ernest Johnson just further proves that. https://t.co/0BnaneHxB2
— Marquis Govan (@MarquisGovan1) October 5, 2021
Ignoring calls for clemency from petitioners, state and federal legislators, and faith leaders, including the Pope, Missouri, under Governor Parson, is set to execute Ernest Johnson, a man with intellectual disabilities.
— Crystal Quade (@crystal_quade) October 5, 2021
This isn’t just unconstitutional, it’s obscenely immoral. https://t.co/Cb4NrLkneG
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