Juror testimony about false evidence

James Pavatt, an Oklahoma death-row prisoner, asks the Supreme Court to pause his execution, scheduled for Nov. 12. He seeks the pause while the Court considers his petition asking it to hear his case. Pavatt says new evidence shows prosecutors used information they knew was false to obtain his death sentence. He says that information determined at least one juror's vote for death. He argues the Constitution should let jurors' deliberation statements be used to challenge his death sentence, despite Oklahoma's rule limiting that evidence.

The Court has not ruled and can act at any time, with or without an explanation. No response deadline was requested; the application was not referred, no administrative stay is in place, and no argument is set. It can grant Pavatt’s request, deny it, or grant part of it.

Any emergency ruling would be temporary and would not decide whether Pavatt's death sentence must be set aside. If granted, the requested stay would pause his execution while the Court considers whether to hear his case. The docket lists no related case on the main questions and no argument date. It does not say whether proceedings continue in the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 26A661. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.

• SupremeCourt.gov docket page
• SupremeCourt.gov

Checked November 9, 2026