Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, commuted Toforest Johnson's death sentence on October 20, 2026, replacing it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Ivey cited doubts about the evidence as her reason for the decision, according to ABC News.
Johnson had been convicted in connection with the 1995 murder of William Hardy, a deputy sheriff in Jefferson County, Alabama. He has consistently maintained his innocence, The Guardian reported.
Doubts about the conviction have grown over time. Several former public officials have argued Johnson deserves a new trial, and the local district attorney has also called for one, according to The Guardian.