Petition Sent to Governor Daniels!

A hard copy of our petition asking for clemency for David Woods was overnighted to Governor Daniels early this afternoon with 490 signatures! In addition to the hard copy of the signatures accumulated so far, the link to the petition website was included so that any signatures acquired after printing should be noted by the Governor.

However, there's more you can do!

If you have not already, please call the Governor at 317-232-4567. Simply let them know that you are asking the Governor to grant David Woods clemency. No ideological debates will ensue; it will only take a minute and every little bit counts. Talking points provided by David's lawyer can be found here for those who wish to elaborate on their requests.

You can read the text of the accompanying letter written and signed by ND ASK co-directors Will McAuliffe and Andrea Laidman below.


April 30, 2007

The Honorable Mitch Daniels
Office of the Governor
Statehouse
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-8797

Governor Daniels,

Please find attached the names and information of almost 500 people asking you to grant David Woods clemency. As is apparent by the comments left by some of the petitioners, there are a variety of reasons that people have reached the conclusion that clemency is the appropriate action: some for religious reasons, some over concerns for human dignity, and others who are simply appalled that we would execute someone with such a traumatic background and history of service to the death row community. We are certain that none of these reasons are alien to your conscience, yet we are equally certain that seeing that they are echoed throughout Indiana and the United States should give you no reason to proceed with the execution of David Woods and should bolster your confidence in granting clemency.

We would also like to emphasize the unprecedented relevance of this particular execution in relation to the release of the American Bar Association’s report on Indiana with which we’re certain you are aware. This report, in essence, has revealed many of the flaws in the judicial system particularly as it relates to capital cases. This information has existed for some time yet has never been so accessible or well-documented. To carry out an execution in the wake of such an important document that calls into question the nature and certainty of justice in Indiana would be an affront to Indiana’s central tenets “…that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated.” There is no justice in carrying out an execution which has resulted from a flawed and unjust system.

We sincerely hope that the words of the petitioners reach your mind and your conscience. We hope that you take great pause when you consider that 61% of Hoosiers would support a moratorium on executions. We pray that you carry out justice in the only way that our God and society finds acceptable by granting clemency to David Woods.

We thank you on behalf of all the petitioners for your consideration of this matter. We appreciate the gravity of the situation and the scrutiny which accompanies your decision, but are certain that you will inevitably conclude that society and the notion of justice upon which our country and the state of Indiana were built are not served by the death of this man.

Most Sincerely,

Andrea Laidman
Co-Director, ND ASK

Will McAuliffe
Co-Director, ND ASK