Last night, March 7, 2023, the State of Texas carried out its fourth execution of the year, putting Gary Green to death for killing his estranged wife, Lovetta Armstead, and her daughter, Jazzmen, in 2009 in Dallas. Evidence developed about Green’s mental health established that his cognitive and mental health challenges diminished his ability to fully understand and regulate his actions.
We thank everyone who stood vigil yesterday or contacted the Governor to request a reprieve for Green so that his attorney could pursue additional intellectual disability testing. A reprieve also would have allowed for the resolution of the pending civil lawsuit related to the use of expired drugs in executions in Texas.
Green is the 63rd person convicted in Dallas to be executed since 1982. Dallas County ranks second only to Harris County in terms of executions and the number of people sentenced to death. In February, the State executed Wesley Ruiz, who also was convicted in Dallas.
The execution of Arthur Brown, who was convicted in Harris County for four murders he maintains he did not commit, is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Original post, March 7, 2023: The State of Texas is scheduled to carry out two executions this week (the last time this happened was in September 2018, when Daniel Acker and Troy Clark were executed one day apart).
Tonight, March 7, 2023, Gary Green faces execution for killing Lovetta Armstead and her daughter, Jazzmen, in 2009 in Dallas. Evidence developed about Green’s mental health establishes that his cognitive and mental health challenges diminished his ability to fully understand and regulate his actions.
Green’s attorney sought to withdraw the execution date, arguing he needs more time to pursue additional intellectual disability testing and to allow for the resolution of the pending civil lawsuit related to the use of expired drugs in executions in Texas.
Read more from the Texas Tribune and Texas Observer.
If the execution proceeds, Green would be the fourth person put to death by Texas this year and the 63rd person convicted in Dallas to be executed. The State executed five people total in 2022.
Dallas County ranks second only to Harris County in terms of executions and the number of people sentenced to death. In February, the State executed Wesley Ruiz, who also was convicted in Dallas.
Dallas voters strongly support alternatives to the death penalty, according to a poll conducted in June 2021 by the independent research firm Public Policy Polling. When asked which punishment they prefer for people convicted of first-degree murder, 75% of respondents opted for a sentence of life in prison with a possibility of parole after 20 or 40 years or life in prison without parole. Only 14% of all respondents prefer the death penalty.
According to that same poll, 83% of voters would support the Dallas District Attorney reviewing the cases of the individuals on death row currently on death from Dallas, including any new evidence of innocence or intellectual disability, to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot is among three current DAs in Texas who endorsed a Joint Statement from Elected Prosecutors Pledging to Work Towards the Elimination of the Death Penalty, which was released by Fair and Justice Prosecution in early 2022.