Attorney General Coleman Continues Fight to End Death Penalty Ban, Deliver Justice to Crime Victims

Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2024) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today the Attorney General’s Office returned to the Franklin Circuit Court in an effort to end its 15-year ban on the lawful imposition of the death penalty in Kentucky.

Powell County Deputy Sheriff Arthur Briscoe

On Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Office asked the Franklin Circuit Court to rule on its motion to end the death penalty ban. Earlier this year, the Kentucky Supreme Court opened the door for the Franklin Circuit Court to reach a definitive decision.

In 2010, the Franklin Circuit Court blocked any imposition of the death penalty in the Commonwealth until certain criteria were met. The Beshear Administration adopted an amended capital punishment regulation in March, which brought the Commonwealth’s policy into full compliance with the Franklin Circuit Court’s previous rulings. Since then, General Coleman has sought to end the extended delay.

“The victims of these brutal crimes and their families deserve the justice that was lawfully delivered by a Kentucky jury – in some cases decades ago,” said Attorney General Coleman. “The seemingly endless delays have inflicted unnecessary pain on these families. We are asking the Court to respect the juries’ verdicts and give these victims and their families the closure they have waited so long for.”

One of the prisoners benefiting from the Franklin Circuit Court’s injunction brutally murdered Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and Deputy Sheriff Arthur Briscoe in 1992. The law enforcement professionals were shot and killed while attempting to serve twice-convicted felon Ralph Baze with warrants from Ohio. Baze was sentenced to death in 1994, and now—a  full 30 years later—he remains behind bars in the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville.

Lisa Briscoe Lally, who was the sister and sister-in-law of the fallen officers, told media, “We’re fed up with the delays. Fed up. Totally fed up. It’s like the state of Kentucky has forgotten how heinously my brother and brother-in-law were murdered.”

Assistant Solicitor General and Director of Capital Litigation Chris Henry and Assistant Solicitor General Grant Burdette submitted the motion on behalf of the Commonwealth.