Prosecutors gathered in Harrisburg today to take a stand against Governor Tom Wolf's moratorium on the death penalty.
Rob vaughn: And they say they're taking the Governor to court to over it. WFMZ's Jennifer Joas joins us live from the Berks County Services Center in Reading with more.
That's right...District Attorney John Adams claims what the governor did was illegal...and says he believes the victim's families deserve more.
REPORTER: Justice delayed is justice denied. That's the slogan prosecutors used as they stood at the Pennsylvania capitol and proclaimed their opposition to Governor Tom Wolf's death penalty moratorium.
JOHN adams: "He does not have the authority, under the Pennsylvania law to grant a moratorium."
REPORTER: Wolf put the moratorium in place three weeks ago. He said he feels the system is flawed, ineffective and expensive...and he plans to issue reprieves while a legislative panel studies the issue. But prosecutors find his actions illegal. That's why the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office filed a motion with the pa Supreme Court. And in addition to being unlawful...Adams finds Wolf's move off-putting.
ADAMS: "He didn't ask us our opinion He didn't ask us our feelings on this issue and also more importantly, the victims were never consulted."
REPORTER: One of those victims is Tricia Wertz. She and her two sons are now living without her husband...Reading Police officer Scott Wertz. He was gunned down in 2006 after responding to a fight. His convicted killer, Cletus Rivera, now sits on death row...and the news of the moratorium upset her when we spoke a few weeks ago.
TRICIA wertz: "He was found guilty by a jury of his peers and sentenced. Our legal system is there for a reason, and i feel like justice was served, but i do not feel like the sentence was served."
Reporter: Twelve people convicted in Berks County, including Cletus Rivera, are among the 183 men and three women who currently sit on Pennsylvania's death row.
The Supreme Court has since agreed to hear the D.A.'s motion... But not on an expedited basis, as the D.A.'s were asking. Live in Reading, Jennifer Joas, 69 News.
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