Phone Script

Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I am calling from [City, State]. I am calling to respectfully urge Governor Ivey to grant clemency to Charles 'Sonny' Burton. Sonny did not pull the trigger, yet he remains on death row while the actual shooter was given a life sentence. Sonny is now in failing health and uses a wheelchair. I ask the Governor to commute his sentence to Life Without Parole to correct this 'arguably unjust' disparity. Thank you.

Email / Web Form Template

Subject: Urgent: Clemency Request for Charles "Sonny" Burton

Message:

Dear Governor Ivey,

I am writing to respectfully urge you to grant clemency to Charles "Sonny" Burton and commute his death sentence to Life Without Parole.

Sonny has spent 33 years on death row despite the fact that he was not the shooter in the 1991 incident. The actual shooter, Derrick DeBruce, was resentenced to Life years ago. The State itself has acknowledged that the disparity between their sentences is arguably unjust.

Today, Sonny’s health is severely compromised. He is a wheelchair user and a fall risk who lives in daily pain. Granting him clemency is not a request for his release, but a request for fairness and mercy. Please bring this long-standing injustice to an end.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Address/City]

Letter Template (Formal)

[Your Name] [Your Address] [Date]

The Honorable Kay Ivey Governor of Alabama 600 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, AL 36130

RE: Clemency for Charles Burton (AIS #Z543)

Dear Governor Ivey,

[Insert personal opening: e.g., As a resident of Alabama / As a person of faith / As a concerned citizen...] I am writing to you today to request that you exercise your power of executive clemency for Charles "Sonny" Burton.

Sonny’s case represents a unique failure of the legal system. Under the felony murder rule, he was sentenced to death for a killing he did not personally commit. While the person who did commit the act is no longer on death row, Sonny remains there, aging and in poor health.

I believe that mercy is a sign of a strong justice system. Commuting Sonny's sentence to Life Without the Possibility of Parole would ensure he is never released while also acknowledging that his current sentence is disproportionate and unjust.

Thank you for your time and for the difficult work you do for our state.

Respectfully,
[Your Signature]