A former Oklahoma County prosecutor, Fern Smith, is facing allegations of personal ties to a current judge, Susan Stallings, in two high-profile death row cases. Smith, who was the original prosecutor in both cases, has been accused of failing to disclose her relationships with Stallings, despite being questioned about them by defense attorneys.
In one case, Tremane Wood, whose brother was wrongly convicted and executed, had a lawyer claim that Smith's demeanor during his evidentiary hearing was "hostile" and biased. However, the judge who presided over that case, Susan Stallings, had previously told prosecutors that they were being "unreasonable" to expect her to recuse herself from Wood's case due to her relationship with Smith.
Stallings' own testimony at an evidentiary hearing for a different defendant, Richard Glossip, revealed that she and Smith had traveled together on a trip to Spain in 1997. However, Stallings claimed that this was the extent of their relationship, despite later admitting that they also went on trips to Las Vegas and England.
The revelation has raised questions about Stallings' impartiality in both cases, and her decision to recuse herself from Glossip's case after hearing defense attorneys question her about her relationships with Smith. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Wood earlier this month, citing the "new evidence" that revealed Stallings had concealed the full extent of her relationship with Smith.
Stallings ultimately decided to recuse herself from Glossip's case, stating that the defense was trying to make her a "distraction" in order to get what they wanted. However, many have questioned whether this decision was truly motivated by impartiality or simply an attempt to avoid scrutiny over her relationships with Smith.
The case has sparked concerns about prosecutorial misconduct and the lack of transparency in judicial decisions. As one defense attorney stated, "It's not a great culture" in Oklahoma City, where prosecutors and judges often work closely together. The incident has also raised questions about the role of mentorship and influence in shaping judicial impartiality.
The judge assigned to Glossip's case after Stallings recused herself is another former Oklahoma County prosecutor, raising further concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the relationships between prosecutors, judges, and defendants are complex and often fraught with tension.
In one case, Tremane Wood, whose brother was wrongly convicted and executed, had a lawyer claim that Smith's demeanor during his evidentiary hearing was "hostile" and biased. However, the judge who presided over that case, Susan Stallings, had previously told prosecutors that they were being "unreasonable" to expect her to recuse herself from Wood's case due to her relationship with Smith.
Stallings' own testimony at an evidentiary hearing for a different defendant, Richard Glossip, revealed that she and Smith had traveled together on a trip to Spain in 1997. However, Stallings claimed that this was the extent of their relationship, despite later admitting that they also went on trips to Las Vegas and England.
The revelation has raised questions about Stallings' impartiality in both cases, and her decision to recuse herself from Glossip's case after hearing defense attorneys question her about her relationships with Smith. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Wood earlier this month, citing the "new evidence" that revealed Stallings had concealed the full extent of her relationship with Smith.
Stallings ultimately decided to recuse herself from Glossip's case, stating that the defense was trying to make her a "distraction" in order to get what they wanted. However, many have questioned whether this decision was truly motivated by impartiality or simply an attempt to avoid scrutiny over her relationships with Smith.
The case has sparked concerns about prosecutorial misconduct and the lack of transparency in judicial decisions. As one defense attorney stated, "It's not a great culture" in Oklahoma City, where prosecutors and judges often work closely together. The incident has also raised questions about the role of mentorship and influence in shaping judicial impartiality.
The judge assigned to Glossip's case after Stallings recused herself is another former Oklahoma County prosecutor, raising further concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the relationships between prosecutors, judges, and defendants are complex and often fraught with tension.
... I mean, can you believe that a judge is having personal ties to the prosecutor in death row cases? It's like something out of The Sopranos or something 
. And don't even get me started on how Stallings claimed her relationship with Smith was just a friendly trip to Spain, but then later said it was more than that... like, come on, Susan! 
The fact that Judge Stallings claimed she had no other relationships with Smith except for a trip to Spain in '97, but later admitted otherwise... yeah, that doesn't add up. 
It's like they were trying to hide something. And the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is on it now, saying that Stallings concealed the full extent of her relationship with Smith. 
The whole thing just reeks of bad judgment. Can we please get some transparency in our judicial system? 
. The real question is, how far do these connections go? Is this just a case of friends helping friends, or is there actual favoritism at play? I'm not saying that's definitely the case, but it's definitely worth investigating 
...
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