Judge approves OK AG's execution delay request; death row inmate Richard Glossip's execution pushed back once more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Court documents show a district judge has approved Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond's motion to delay several executions in the state, further postponing death row inmate Richard Glossip's execution.

Last week, Drummond filed a motion with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, requesting that seven impending executions be conducted with more time between each event due to an understaffed Department of Corrections.

“One aspect that has become clear over time is that the current pace of executions is unsustainable in the long run, as it is unduly burdening the DOC and its personnel," states the Jan. 17 filing. "This is especially true given the extensive and intensive nature of the training DOC personnel undergo to prepare for each execution.”

Now, the court of criminal appeals has approved that request, pushing back the executions for Richard Glossip, Jemaine Cannon, Anthony Sanchez, Phillip Hancock, James Ryder, Michael Smith, and Wade Lay.

The execution date for Richard Glossip is now set for May 18, 2023.

Jemaine Cannon's execution date is pushed to July 20, 2023.

The execution of Anthony Sanchez is set for September 21, 2023.

Phillip Hancock's execution is now November 30, 2023.

James Ryder is set to be executed February 1, 2024.

Michael Smith's is set for April 4, 2024.

Finally, the execution of Wade Lay is now June 6, 2024.

Additional execution dates will be set at a later time.