Lawmakers and advocates are discussing what they call disparities in Oklahoma’s criminal justice system

The case of death row inmate Richard Glossip is once again the focus of discussions at the State Capitol. Glossip’s attorney spoke to the House Criminal Justice Committee about what they described as disparities in the case.

Glossip has been on death row for almost 25 years and has almost been executed several times. Glossip was sentenced to death twice for hiring someone to murder his boss, Barry Van Treese, in Oklahoma City.

Glossip has maintained his innocence for the past two decades while his case garnered support from celebrities, the attorney general and even Republican lawmakers in the state.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for Glossip, just days before his scheduled death.

“There is something really wrong with our system,” said Rep. Justin “JJ” Humphrey, (R) Lane. “We are being ignored when we have huge, massive problems in this system, and that’s what this study is about today.”

Humphrey held a discussion at the state Capitol about possible changes to the criminal justice system.

“We really don’t have a justice system, a criminal justice system in Oklahoma. We have a criminal punishment system in Oklahoma,” said Don Knight, Richard Glossip’s attorney.

One of the cases that lawmakers consider unfair is the case of death row prisoner Richard Glossip.

“In this case in particular, I could not believe that a person was on death row because of the lack of evidence that I could find,” said Rep. Humphrey.

“This is clearly not a murder case,” Knight said.

After the U.S. Supreme Court saved Glossip’s life just days before his scheduled execution, the highest court will finally hear his case next week.

“Probably, to my knowledge, there hasn’t been a single case that has received this kind of support. “There are many people on death row who are not getting the ‘Richard Glossip treatment,'” said Rep. Humphrey.

Humphrey said he would work on legislation to ensure that people with minor involvement in a murder case are no longer eligible for the death penalty.

“Some could still receive life sentences without the possibility of parole,” said Rep. Humphrey. “Our aim is not to excuse a crime, but rather to adapt the punishment to the crime. We cannot continue to execute whoever we want, especially when we witness manipulation of evidence and outright lies. We must hold this system and those who work within it accountable again.”

But Knight says real change will likely require more than just new laws.

“This system probably can’t really be fixed with more Band-Aids; everything is a band-aid. Instead, it would be better if it were looked at systematically,” Knight said.

The family of the victim, Barry Van Treese, has attended multiple hearings in this case. The victim’s brother told us in a 2015 interview, “You live with the consequences of your actions, and the death penalty in Oklahoma is the consequence of taking someone else’s life.”

Glossip’s case is scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next Wednesday, October 9th.