After 30 Years, Senator Demands Justice in Powell County Murders

Families Still Waiting for Justice

More than three decades after Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and Deputy Arthur Briscoe were killed in the line of duty, their families are still waiting for justice. Ralph Baze, convicted of the 1992 murders, was sentenced to death in 1994. Every appeal has been exhausted, yet his sentence remains unfulfilled.

Think American News previously reported on Senator Brandon Smith’s call for Governor Andy Beshear to sign the death warrant earlier this month. Now, Smith is renewing that demand — urging the Governor to act and bring long-overdue closure to the families who have waited more than 30 years.

“Sheriff Bennett and Deputy Briscoe gave their lives in service to their community, and their families have waited far too long for justice,” Smith said. “Kentucky juries and courts have spoken with clarity. Every appeal has been exhausted. The verdict of the jury reflects the will of the people of Kentucky, and that verdict must be respected.”

A Case That Shaped National Law

Ralph Baze, now 55, became the focus of national attention in 2007 when the U.S. Supreme Court heard Baze v. Rees, a case challenging Kentucky’s lethal injection protocol. The Court ultimately upheld the method, setting a precedent for states nationwide. But that ruling also led to years of delay and a national pause in executions.

Kentucky has not carried out an execution since 2008. For families of victims like Bennett and Briscoe, that pause has felt like a denial of justice.

Renewed Pressure on the Governor

Smith’s latest statement follows Attorney General Russell Coleman’s effort to lift the 2010 court injunction that halted executions. Coleman says the Department of Corrections has updated its protocols and that federal action has ensured access to the necessary drugs.

Smith agrees Kentucky is ready to move forward. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. “The attorney general has laid out a legal path forward. The federal government has pledged to help states obtain the necessary drugs. There are no more excuses. Only the governor stands in the way of justice being realized.”

A Dispute Over Process

Governor Beshear has maintained that he supports the death penalty “for some crimes so terrible,” but he has declined to sign a warrant in the Baze case. His office cites a regulation requiring a review of death row inmates for potential intellectual disabilities before execution.

Smith argues that regulation doesn’t apply in this case. Baze never claimed an intellectual disability during his trial or in the years since, and he was found competent to stand trial. “The regulation requires a medical exam 14 days before execution, not before the Governor’s order,” Smith wrote. “The process begins after he acts.”

He also notes that the regulation the Governor cited is still under review and months from taking effect. “By pointing to a regulation still in flux, he’s telling these families to keep waiting for justice promised decades ago. That’s not leadership. It’s avoidance, and it’s deeply unfair.”

Justice or Politics?

The broader debate now centers on whether Kentucky’s leaders will prioritize process or principle. The state currently has 24 inmates on death row. Neighboring states such as Tennessee and Georgia have resumed executions despite similar challenges.

Smith questions whether political considerations are influencing Beshear’s reluctance. “The Governor has said he supports the death penalty in the most heinous cases, and this is one,” Smith said. “One officer was executed while crawling away. Hiding behind process instead of honoring the jury raises a question: are politics and national opinion outweighing justice and public opinion in Kentucky?”

“No More Excuses”

For Senator Smith, the issue goes beyond a single case. It’s about restoring trust in the justice system and showing that Kentucky stands with victims and law enforcement. “The Governor alone can act,” Smith said. “No more excuses. It’s time to carry out the jury’s decision and show Kentucky stands with victims.”

Thirty years after two officers were ambushed and killed, their families are still waiting. For them, each passing day is another reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.