News / FJP Releases

March 19, 2025

FJP Statement on Tomorrow’s Scheduled Execution of Wendell Grissom

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Wendell Grissom in Oklahoma, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection tomorrow, Thursday, March 20th at 10 A.M. CST.

Mr. Grissom’s defense team has argued that ‘several mitigating factors,’ including neurological deficits from birth-related brain damage and substance dependency, contributed to his crime but were not presented during his trial. Three jurors who initially sentenced Mr. Grissom to death later wrote letters expressing regret over their decision after learning this information. Juror Deborah Givens specifically wrote that she no longer feels confident in her choice to sentence Grissom to death.

Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Oklahoma’s planned execution:

“Barring last-minute intervention, the State of Oklahoma will execute Mr. Grissom by lethal injection tomorrow morning. The death penalty is an irreversible punishment, and cases like Mr. Grissom’s only underscore the profound injustice inherent within any legal system that permits state-sanctioned killing. Mr. Grissom’s jury was never given crucial information about his neurological and cognitive deficits before sentencing him to death. We now know that knowledge of Mr. Grissom’s condition would have made a material difference for at least three of his jurors who have subsequently spoken out against his execution.”

March 18, 2025

FJP Statement on Tomorrow’s Scheduled Execution of Aaron Gunches

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Aaron Gunches in Arizona, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday, March 19th at 10 A.M. PST. Arizona’s lethal injection protocols have long been criticized for their injustice, marked by secrecy, botched executions, and a disregard for civil rights.

Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Arizona’s planned execution of Aaron Gunches tomorrow:

“Barring last-minute intervention, tomorrow morning the state of Arizona will execute Mr. Gunches by lethal injection. Arizona has a history of botched executions, illegal drug sourcing, and reckless disregard for human rights. No state government should have the power to carry out executions in such a cruel and unconstitutional way, yet under the new Trump Administration, Arizona state officials feel they can do so with impunity. This is not just a failure of justice—it’s a moral outrage.

FJP Statement on Tonight’s Scheduled Execution of Jessie Hoffman

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Jessie Hoffman in Louisiana, who is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia today, Tuesday, March 18th. The United Nations and other experts have said nitrogen asphyxiation may cause pain and suffering that violates the international ‘prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.’ This untested and torturous method only adds another layer of cruelty to the already inhumane practice of state-sanctioned murder. This will be the first execution in Louisiana in 15 years, and the state will become just the second state to carry out executions by nitrogen suffocation if Governor Landry does not act quickly.

Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Louisiana’s planned execution of Jessie Hoffman today:

“Barring last minute intervention, the state of Louisiana will execute Mr. Hoffman with nitrogen asphyxiation today. True justice is not found in executions but in breaking cycles of violence, offering rehabilitation services, and recognizing the humanity of everyone. Mr. Hoffman has spent decades working to rehabilitate himself, demonstrating genuine remorse and personal growth. He has pursued self-improvement and built meaningful relationships with those who have witnessed his transformation. He has mentored other incarcerated individuals, offering guidance and support to help them make better choices. Through his actions, he has shown that people are capable of change when given the opportunity. Executing Mr. Hoffman disregards not only his rehabilitation, but also the very idea that redemption is possible.

March 17, 2025

An “Authoritarian Turn” – FJP Condemns Trump Administration’s Use of the Alien Enemies Act as a Dangerous Moment for US Democracy

On March 15, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport 261 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador for arbitrary and indefinite detention in El Salvador’s notorious prison system. The Administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act when the United States is neither at war nor subject to a military invasion is historically unprecedented. A federal district court judge for the District of Columbia issued an immediate temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act and ordering the Trump Administration to return the detainees to the United States. The Trump Administration refused to comply with this judicial order, claiming that the Court’s jurisdiction was limited given that the detainees were on a flight over international waters.

Fair and Just Prosecution Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to enforce its mass deportation agenda:

“After unlawfully threatening to cut funding to sanctuary cities and states, illegally detaining and attempting to deport a legal permanent resident over his political speech, and weaponizing the Justice Department to prosecute local law enforcement officials who fail to comply with this Administration’s blatantly unlawful executive orders, President Trump is now invoking war time powers during a time of peace to justify rounding up potentially millions of people. This blatantly unconstitutional and unlawful power grab reveals the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda for what it is – an authoritarian turn in our nation’s history and a time when the rule of law is under direct threat.

March 14, 2025

Fair and Just Prosecution Condemns Senate Passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) strongly condemns the Senate’s passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act, a reckless and misguided bill that doubles down on the failed, punitive drug policies of the past instead of embracing real, evidence-based solutions to the overdose crisis.

FJP Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement in response to the Senate passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act:

“Overdose deaths are declining not because of harsh sentencing laws, but because we are finally investing in what works—harm reduction, expanded treatment, and proven public health strategies. The HALT Fentanyl Act threatens this progress by doubling down on ineffective and extreme sentences and fueling unjust prosecutions that disproportionately target communities of color. We have decades of evidence showing that harsh sentencing laws don’t stop drug use or save lives. Why are we repeating the same mistakes?