Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has stunned the state’s political establishment by commuting the sentence of death row inmate Robin “Rocky” Myers after serious questions surfaced about his guilt. The unprecedented move marks the first time Ivey has halted an execution since taking office in 2017.
At a Glance
- Gov. Kay Ivey commuted Robin “Rocky” Myers’ death sentence to life without parole after reviewing evidence
- Myers was convicted of the 1991 murder of Ludie Mae Tucker despite maintaining his innocence
- The original jury recommended life imprisonment, but a judge overrode them and imposed death
- Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed “astonishment” at the Governor’s decision
- Ivey cited lack of physical evidence and conflicting testimony in her commutation decision
Governor Makes Rare Death Row Intervention
Alabama’s Republican Governor Kay Ivey took the rare step of commuting a death row inmate’s sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on Friday, stunning many legal observers across the state. The case involves Robin “Rocky” Myers, who was convicted of murdering Ludie Mae Tucker during a 1991 burglary in Decatur, Alabama.
The decision represents the first time Ivey has halted an execution since becoming Governor in 2017, making it a significant departure from her previous handling of capital cases. The last time an Alabama Governor commuted a death sentence was in 1999, making Ivey’s action all the more notable within the traditionally tough-on-crime state.
So very grateful tonight!!! https://t.co/EWvGFP7IBq
— Justice For Rocky Myers (@Justice4RockyM) February 28, 2025
Questions of Innocence Surround Conviction
The Governor’s decision hinged on her assessment that too many questions remained about Myers’ guilt to allow his execution to proceed. While Ivey has consistently supported capital punishment, she determined this particular case contained sufficient uncertainty to warrant intervention after reviewing the evidence.
“I have enough questions about Mr. Myers’ guilt that I cannot move forward with executing him,” Ivey said. “But I pray that the Tucker family may, in some way, find closure and peace knowing this case is closed, and Mr. Myers will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
The case against Myers lacked physical evidence tying him to the murder – no murder weapon was recovered, and no DNA evidence connected him to the crime scene. Additionally, the jury that convicted Myers had actually recommended a life sentence rather than death, but Circuit Court Judge Claude Bennett McRae overrode their recommendation and imposed capital punishment.
“I am not convinced that Mr. Myers is innocent, but I am not so convinced of his guilt as to approve of his execution. I therefore must respect both the jury’s decision to convict him and its recommendation that he be sentenced to life without parole.” — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey. https://t.co/Ds3AD6OXh7
— Robert Dunham (@RDunhamDP) February 28, 2025
Republican Attorney General “Astonished” by Decision
Ivey’s commutation drew immediate backlash from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a fellow Republican, who publicly criticized the Governor for making the decision without properly consulting his office. Marshall’s office had defended the conviction through numerous appeals over three decades.
“I am astonished by Governor Ivey’s decision to commute the death sentence of Rocky Myers and am bewildered that she chose not to directly communicate with me about this case or her decision,” Marshall said.
The Attorney General added that his office had successfully defended the conviction for 30 years through numerous appeals, with no court reaching the conclusion Ivey did after what he characterized as a “cursory review” of the case. The disagreement between two of Alabama’s top Republicans highlights the divisive nature of death penalty cases even within conservative circles.
Support for Myers’ Case Grows
Despite Marshall’s objections, several key figures had come forward supporting Myers’ innocence claims. A juror from the original trial, Mae Puckett, now believes Myers is innocent and advocated for his commutation. Various lawyers working on the case had pointed to troubling inconsistencies, including unreliable witness testimony and lack of forensic evidence.
Governor Ivey’s decision was welcomed by anti-death penalty organizations including Death Penalty Action and Amnesty International. The Governor maintained she still supports capital punishment in principle but felt this specific case contained too many unresolved questions to allow an execution to proceed.
