Wilder Grants Death Sentence Reversal
Dublin Core
Title
Wilder Grants Death Sentence Reversal
Subject
Death row
Joseph Giarratano
Wilder, Douglas, 1931-
Description
Governor L. Douglas Wilder commuted Joseph M. Giarratano's death sentence. Giarratano's sentence was reduced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 13 years.
Creator
Valley News
Source
Michael A. Mello
Publisher
HIST 298, University of Mary Washington
Date
1991-02-20
Rights
The materials in this online collection are held by Special Collections, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington and are available for educational use. For this purpose only, you may reproduce materials without prior permission on the condition that you provide attribution of the source.
Format
1 JPG
Language
English
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
RICHMOND, Va.— Gov. L. Douglas Wilder yesterday commuted the death sentence of convicted murderer Joseph M. Giarratano Jr., who wants to attend Vermont Law School if he can get out of jail in his nationally celebrated case.
Giarratano’s scheduled electrocution Friday had become a rallying symbol for death-penalty opponents. Wilder’s conditional pardon which is likely to be accepted by Giarratano by a 5 p.m. [Image] today deadline, reduces Giarratano’s sentence to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole 13 years from now.
“I’m still suffering from a slight hangover from celebrating last night,” said Vermont Law professor Mike Mello, who has worked with the drug-addicted-turned-legal expert and advocates his release. Mello mailed letters to Vermont politicians weeks ago “begging them to get in touch with Wilder,” and Giarratano called him a half hour before Wilder announced his decision.
Speculating on the governor’s motives — he’s frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate — Mello said, “I would say it’s about 80 percent politics, 20 percent justice. . . . I’m very, very skeptical of southern governors, especially southern governors who have national political aspirations.”
Wilder — who has refused three other pleas for clemency from condemned murderers during his 13 months in office — gave no reason for his decision in the commutation order.
“I have thoroughly reviewed the evidence in the case,” Wilder wrote. “. . . . I have been subjected to significant pleas from across the United States and other parts of the world. . . . While they have been sincere in their expressions of concern . . . the overwhelming majority acknowledge that they do not enjoy a grasp of the specific facts in the case. I, on the other hand, do, as I must.”
Giarratano’s scheduled electrocution Friday had become a rallying symbol for death-penalty opponents. Wilder’s conditional pardon which is likely to be accepted by Giarratano by a 5 p.m. [Image] today deadline, reduces Giarratano’s sentence to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole 13 years from now.
“I’m still suffering from a slight hangover from celebrating last night,” said Vermont Law professor Mike Mello, who has worked with the drug-addicted-turned-legal expert and advocates his release. Mello mailed letters to Vermont politicians weeks ago “begging them to get in touch with Wilder,” and Giarratano called him a half hour before Wilder announced his decision.
Speculating on the governor’s motives — he’s frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate — Mello said, “I would say it’s about 80 percent politics, 20 percent justice. . . . I’m very, very skeptical of southern governors, especially southern governors who have national political aspirations.”
Wilder — who has refused three other pleas for clemency from condemned murderers during his 13 months in office — gave no reason for his decision in the commutation order.
“I have thoroughly reviewed the evidence in the case,” Wilder wrote. “. . . . I have been subjected to significant pleas from across the United States and other parts of the world. . . . While they have been sincere in their expressions of concern . . . the overwhelming majority acknowledge that they do not enjoy a grasp of the specific facts in the case. I, on the other hand, do, as I must.”
Contributor of the Digital Item
Membreno, Clendra
Student Editor of the Digital Item
Williams, Megan
Files
Citation
Valley News, “Wilder Grants Death Sentence Reversal,” HIST299, accessed March 12, 2026, https://hist299.umwhistory.org/items/show/132.