Arkansas Inmate Urges Court to Expedite Death Sentence Amid Delays
URGENT UPDATE: An Arkansas death row inmate, Scotty Gardner, is demanding the court expedite his case after more than seven years of waiting. In a striking turn of events, Gardner, 65, has urged officials, “Let’s get this over with,” reflecting his frustration with the prolonged legal process.
Gardner was convicted in 2018 for the brutal murder of his girlfriend in a Conway hotel in 2016. He has been on death row since then and has expressed a desire to end his sentence swiftly. “I want out of my ‘cave’ at the Varner Supermax prison,” he stated in a recent interview. His living conditions have been described as cramped and unsanitary, leading to his plea for a resolution.
Court documents reveal that Gardner has been actively seeking to move forward with his appeal. In 2020, he petitioned the Arkansas Supreme Court requesting his execution to be scheduled. “Set a date and let’s do it,” he emphasized in a filing last year. His demands highlight a growing impatience with the legal system’s handling of his case.
While Gardner’s urgency is palpable, the court’s timeline remains uncertain. Judge Charles Clawson III granted a six-month extension in May for prosecutors to respond to filings from Gardner’s attorneys, indicating that his case is still in the early stages of appeal. During a May 27 hearing, Gardner expressed frustration, stating, “I’m sick and tired [of this].”
The backdrop of Gardner’s plea is significant. Arkansas has not executed an inmate since 2017, when a controversial series of executions took place. Four inmates were executed over just 11 days, with reports of botched procedures complicating the state’s death penalty practices. In August, ten death row inmates attempted to block a new law allowing nitrogen gas executions, arguing it was illegal for those sentenced to lethal injection. Gardner was not part of this lawsuit, but it underscores the contentious atmosphere surrounding capital punishment in Arkansas.
As Gardner continues to press for a swift resolution, the implications of his case resonate beyond his personal circumstances. The debate over the death penalty in Arkansas intensifies, with legal battles shaping the future of capital punishment in the state.
What happens next is crucial. Gardner’s pursuit of a speedy resolution may face further delays as the court navigates the complexities of his appeal. As the situation develops, the broader implications for other death row inmates and the state’s execution policies remain in the spotlight.
Stay tuned for updates as this urgent case unfolds.
