Final answer:
A single member of the state board of pardons and parole can suspend the execution of a death sentence to allow time for the board to meet, showing the authority of individual members in the clemency process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The execution of the death sentence is suspended if a single member of the state board of pardons and parole wants a delay until the board can meet. This ability for even one member to initiate a hold demonstrates the power of individual board members and the importance of their role in the clemency process.
In the context of death penalty procedures, the individual members of a state board hold significant power. They can intervene in capital punishment cases, reflecting society's evolving views on the death penalty and the potential for judicial errors. DNA evidence and concerns over wrongful executions have shifted public opinion, and some states have abolished the death penalty or commuted death sentences. Governors also have clemency powers, including granting pardons and commuting sentences. These powers and actions contribute to ongoing debates about capital punishment's legal and ethical implications.