Alabama Governor Commutes Toforest Johnson’s Death Sentence

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted Toforest Johnson’s death sentence to life in prison without parole on October 20, ending the possibility of his execution while leaving his murder conviction intact. Ivey said she had concerns that the evidence was insufficient to justify the death penalty, but emphasized that her decision did not declare Johnson innocent. Johnson was convicted in 1998 of the 1995 killing of Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff William Hardy, who was shot while working off-duty security at a hotel. Johnson has maintained his innocence and said he was elsewhere when the shooting occurred. The sentence change means he will remain imprisoned for life unless a court grants relief that changes his conviction or sentence. Ivey said in a statement that she had concerns there was not enough direct evidence to impose the state’s most severe punishment. She said the circumstances warranted commuting the sentence, while making clear that the commutation was not a determination of innocence. The governor has overseen 27 executions and commuted the sentences of three death row inmates, according to the reports. The central evidence at Johnson’s trial included testimony from a...