Supreme Court of Missouri / Jun 4, 2024
State ex rel. Governor Michael L. Parson, Relator, v. The Honorable Cotton Walker, Respondent.
Marcellus Williams filed a declaratory judgment action challenging Governor Parson's rescission of a prior executive order that stayed Williams' execution and appointed a board of inquiry. The circuit court denied the Governor's motion for judgment on the pleadings, prompting the Governor to seek a writ of prohibition. The Missouri Supreme Court made its preliminary writ of prohibition permanent, holding that the Governor possesses exclusive constitutional authority over clemency, and Williams has no statutory or due process right to the board of inquiry process.