***scroll for updates…clemency denied***

Late last night, the California Supreme Court refused to grant a stay of execution for convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams. He’ll be executed early Tuesday unless Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grants clemency or a last-ditch federal appeal succeeds. Via AP:

Williams’ supporters also made another pitch directly to the governor Sunday to spare his life, telling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a letter that they had a new witness who could help prove Williams’ innocence.

“All we need now is time to investigate to make sure this story is real,” said NAACP California President Alice Huffman. “We’re hoping and praying for clemency, but we’re not going to leave any stone unturned.”

Time? Time?! Williams has been on death row for 24 years.

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Tookie Watch at Flap’s Blog.

Poll at California Conservative.

Veteran Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters assesses the politics of Schwarzenegger’s choice.

If Schwarzenegger’s new left-wing chief-of-staff, Susan Kennedy, holds any sway over the decision, Tookie may be breathing easier today (though Jill Stewart
defends Kennedy here.)

Background on Kennedy from John Fund here.

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A bit off-topic, but check out the NYDaily News item on Tookie supporter Jamie Foxx, the actor who played the Crips co-founder on TV (scroll down to second item).

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Neal Boortz predicts:

Tookie’s Termination is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. It won’t happen. First, the federal courts are likely to grant a stay or two. After all, he was only sentenced about 24 years ago. What’s the rush? Secondly, I believe that the main reason the execution of Tookie Williams won’t be executed is because Schwarzenegger knows full well that as soon as Tookie’s death is announced there will be riots in South Central Los Angeles and elsewhere. The huge media exploitation of this story has made drop-dead sure of that. There are thugs just waiting for an excuse … not a reason, an excuse. The rioting, of course, will lead to wide scale looting. There are a lot of aspiring rappers and NBA superstars who could really use a nice flat-screen television right now.

Look for Arnold to give Tookie a pass.

Debbie Schlussel looks at the friends of Tookie Williams: ABC and the Nation of Islam.

Arnold’s choice: No clemency. Gov’s statement and official PDF file at Gov’s website with footnotes.

Big Lizards takes a lookie.

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Previous:

12/11 Tookie Files: Tension builds
12/6 Tookie Files: Surprising dissents
11/30 Tookie Watch
11/26 The Tookie Files
11/22/00 Peace prize for a murderer?