Press Releases
about Capital Punishment
May 21, 2026
Statement on Tennessee’s Torturous Execution Attempt of Tony Carruthers
NASHVILLE – This morning, Tennessee carried out a botched and torturous attempt to execute Tony Carruthers despite the state’s continued refusal to conduct forensic testing tha...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
May 20, 2026
ACLU Urges Supreme Court to Stop Tennessee’s Wrongful Execution of Tony Carruthers
Tennessee plans to execute Mr. Carruthers tomorrow while sitting on untested DNA and fingerprint evidence that could exonerate him.
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: Carruthers v. Tony
May 18, 2026
Exonerees, Faith Leaders, and Tennesseans Deliver Petition Urging Governor Lee to Stop the Wrongful Execution of Tony Carruthers
NASHVILLE – Exonerees, faith leaders, and Tennesseans from across the state gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol on Monday to deliver a petition signed by more than 130,000 pe...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
Apr 09, 2026
ACLU Demands DNA Testing That Could Prove Innocence of Tony Carruthers, Man on Tennessee Death Row
The state is preparing to execute Tony Carruthers on May 21 even though serious questions remain about whether they have the right person.
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
Dec 18, 2025
ACLU Condemns Florida Supreme Court Decision Upholding Non-Unanimous Capital Juries
Florida’s law, allowing for juries split 8-4 to sentence people to death, is the most extreme in the country
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Court case: Michael Jackson v. State of Florida
Nov 19, 2025
New ACLU Report Exposes Systemic Failures Behind Wrongful Death Penalty Convictions
NEW YORK — The American Civil Liberties Union released Fatal Flaws: Innocence, Race and Wrongful Convictions today, a new report exposing how racism, human error, and systemic fa...
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Racial Justice
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
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Tennessee Supreme CourtApr 2026
Capital Punishment
Tony Von Carruthers V. State Of Tennessee. Explore Case.Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
Tennessee plans to execute Tony Carruthers on May 21 even though they refuse to run a simple fingerprint comparison and DNA testing that could prove what Tony has been arguing for 30 years - that he is innocent of this crime and that Tennessee convicted and sentenced the wrong man to death. -
News & CommentaryJan 2026
Capital Punishment
Executions Spiked In 2025, But The Death Penalty Is Still Losing Ground. Explore News & Commentary.Executions Spiked in 2025, but the Death Penalty Is Still Losing Ground
As executions surged to their highest level in years, public support, jury verdicts, and new death sentences continued a historic decline—exposing a punishment sustained by political power, not public will. -
News & CommentaryNov 2025
Capital Punishment
+2 Issues
Gary Tyler Spent 42 Years In Prison For A Crime He Didn't Commit. Racism Put Him There.. Explore News & Commentary.Gary Tyler Spent 42 Years in Prison for a Crime He Didn't Commit. Racism Put Him There.
Tyler’s case shows how bias, fear, and discrimination drive wrongful convictions — and why confronting racial injustice in the legal system remains urgent today. -
News & CommentaryOct 2025
Capital Punishment
Hard-fought Grace: Bearing Witness To Richard Tabler’s Execution. Explore News & Commentary.Hard-Fought Grace: Bearing Witness to Richard Tabler’s Execution
A capital defense attorney reflects on the final hours of her client’s life and the enduring fight for dignity amid state-sanctioned death.