SD Supreme Court denies motion to stay Rhines execution

Pat Powers

SOUTH DAKOTA SUPREME COURT DENIES MOTION TO STAY RHINES EXECUTION, NOW APPEALED TO BECOME THIRD FILE BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg confirms today that the appeal of the Second Circuit’s denial of Charles Rhines’ application for preliminary injunction and stay of execution has been denied by the South Dakota Supreme Court.   Rhine’s defense team has now appealed this decision in a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Rhines is scheduled to be executed today for the murder of 22-year old Donnivan Schaeffer in 1992.

The appeal was filed by Daniel R. Fritz and Timothy R. Rahn on October 31, 2019. It sought to overturn the opinion of Second Circuit Judge Jon C. Sogn which denied the request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction as well as a stay  of execution.

Attorney General Ravnsborg and his office remain in contact with the United States Supreme Court awaiting decisions from that body on two separate petitions before that Court. Rhines’ execution is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CDT) today.

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7 thoughts on “SD Supreme Court denies motion to stay Rhines execution”

  1. Euthanasia is a death with dignity. The victim’s family will never be at peace but Mr. Rhines finally will be.

  3. In many states, capital punishment is unevenly and unjustly applied.
    In many states, you can argue that capital punishment should be rejected because they try to apply it to too many cases, especially where there IS a good chance that an innocent person could be put to death.

    This does not seem to be the case in South Dakota. We rarely have capital punishment cases, and those that we do have are pretty much a slam dunk. There is almost no chance that an innocent person will be convicted. There is enough time for appeals to make sure that we have truly have done our due diligence…we can say with certainty that this person does need to die.

    This is one of those slam dunk cases.
    He had his day in court, he has had his appeals.
    We can say with certainty that Charles Rhines was guilty.
    That the trial and prosecution were fair.
    And now it’s time to carry out his sentence.

  4. Deuteronomy 32:35:
    35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.

    Romans 12:17-19:
    17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

    Hmm. Well that’s all well and good, but what does Jesus have to say?

    Matthew 5:38-40:
    38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

    Um.

    Oh.

    Nevermind. We know best, right?

  5. A stay was issued I heard. Praise be to God. Was it the SCOTUS or SD Supreme Court or the Governor?

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