Jay Nickerson, Tyrone Gilliam's attorney and a member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, talks to us about Tyrone's case:

"Mr. Gilliam is now entering a very critical and final phase of federal review. The Supreme Court is now reviewing his case, and an adverse determination from the U.S. Supreme Court would substantially increase the likelihood of Mr. Gilliam's execution this summer.

"To make things worse, the State of Maryland's eagerness to execute Mr. Gilliam may result in a warrant for his execution being issued even before the U.S. Supreme Court can complete review of his petition - possibly as early as the second week in May. Upon issue of a death warrant, Mr. Gilliam will initiate clemency proceeding before the Governor.

"When your best hope for justice is between a conservative and hostile Supreme Court and an unenlightened governor in an election year, you know you're in a desperate situation.

"We are urging people to let Gov. Glendenning know that, at the end of the 20th century, it is wrong for an educated white politician to tell a poor black man when to die."

The New Abolitionist - May 1998, Volume II, Issue 3
Campaign To End The Death Penalty, Chicago, IL - www.nodeathpenalty.org