Potential 2028 Dem hopeful follows Biden lead, commutes 15 death-row sentences on final day as governor

On his way out the door, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper made a significant decision by commuting the sentences of 15 individuals on the state’s death row. Cooper, a Democrat whose name has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, took a page from President Biden’s playbook, who recently faced criticism for commuting sentences for almost all federal death row inmates.

In a statement, Cooper expressed the gravity of his decision, stating, “These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a governor can make, and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose. After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

It’s worth noting that no executions have taken place in North Carolina since 2006 due to ongoing legal challenges. Among the inmates whose sentences were commuted was Hasson Bacote, a felony murder convict who had previously challenged his death sentence under North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act. Bacote, who is Black, was convicted by a predominantly White jury in Johnston County.

Another inmate, Rayford Burke, also sought relief under the Racial Justice Act. Christopher Roseboro, who has been incarcerated for about 30 years for charges including first-degree rape, also had his sentence commuted to life without parole. Additionally, Darrell Strickland, convicted of manslaughter after a 1995 altercation, saw his sentence commuted to life.

Vincent Wooten, Guy T. LeGrande, and several others also had their sentences commuted by Cooper. These actions follow President Biden’s decision to reclassify death sentences for 37 federal convicts to life without parole, except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.

While some have praised these acts of clemency, others, including a Wilkes-Barre judge involved in a “kids-for-cash” scandal, have faced backlash. Cooper’s 77 total pardons and commutations during his tenure pale in comparison to former Governor James B. Hunt Jr., who granted nearly 700 pardons and commutations during his time in office.

As the political landscape continues to shift, it will be interesting to see how these decisions impact the future of criminal justice reform in North Carolina and beyond.