HAS MORE ON THE PENDING LITIGATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS KNEW THEY WERE FALSE WHEN THEY WERE MADE, AND THEY WERE DESIGNED TO HARM. JOE AND HIS EFFORTS TO EXERCISE HIS CIVIL RIGHTS. AHEAD OF THE EXECUTION OF CONVICTED MURDERER SCOTT EISENBERG, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTONS SENT KOCO AND OTHER MEDIA MEMBERS A STATEMENT ABOUT EISENBERG SPIRITUAL ADVISER JEFF HOOD. THEY CLAIM THE SPIRITUAL ADVISER IN THIS CASE HAS BEEN ARRESTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR SUCH OUTBURSTS, AND OTHER STATES DEMONSTRATE A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE EXPERIENCES OF VICTIMS FAMILIES AND THE SOLEMNITY OF THE PROCESS. EVENTUALLY, HOOD WAS ALLOWED IN TO WITNESS THAT EXECUTION AS A SPIRITUAL ADVISER, BUT NOW HE’S FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THOSE STATEMENTS, CLAIMING THEY’RE FALSE AND THAT HE NEVER DISRESPECTED A VICTIMS OR DEATH ROW INMATES FAMILY. IT’S NOT THAT THEY JUST MADE FALSE STATEMENTS. IT’S NOT THAT THEY JUST ACCUSED ME OF ARREST. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. IT’S THAT THEY STACK IT ON TOP OF BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO THE VICTIMS FAMILIES. WELL, FOR A PASTOR, THAT IS INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE A PASTOR’S BREAD AND BUTTER IS TO BE THE LOVING AND KIND TO ALL SIDES OF THE SITUATION. AND ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, HOOD’S LEGAL TEAM IS ACCUSING THE D.O.C. FOR VIOLATING HOOD’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS UNDER THE FIRST AND 14TH AMENDMENT, CLAIMING THE STATEMENTS IN OUT WAS INTENDED TO VIOLATE REVEREND HOOD’S RIGHT TO PRACTICE RELIGIOUS MINISTRY. HOOD IS AL
Man who serves as spiritual adviser for death row inmates sues Oklahoma for millions
Rev. Jeff Hood claims the state defamed him to the media when they tried to bar him from a recent execution
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Updated: 10:14 PM CDT Mar 27, 2023
A man who serves as a spiritual adviser to death row inmates is suing Oklahoma for millions.Rev. Jeff Hood claims the state defamed him to the media when they tried to bar him from a recent execution. The Department of Corrections won’t comment on the lawsuit, but the attorneys for Hood did.His legal time filed the lawsuit on Friday. They argued Hood is continuing to fight to abolish the death penalty and also pushing back against the allegedly false statements against him.| MORE | ODOC reverses decision, will allow spiritual adviser in chamber during Scott Eizember's execution"The Department of Corrections knew they were false when they were made, and they were designed to harm Jeff in his effort to exercise his civil rights," said Kim Hood, attorney.Ahead of the execution of convicted murderer Scott Eizember, the DOC sent KOCO 5 and other media members a statement about Hood. They claimed, "The spiritual advisor, in this case, has been arrested multiple times for such outbursts in other states, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the experiences of victims’ families and the solemnity of the process."Eventually, Hood was allowed in to witness the execution as the spiritual adviser, but now, he’s fighting back against those statements, claiming they’re false and that he never disrespected a victim’s or death row inmate’s family."It’s not that they just made false statements. It’s not that they accused me of arrests that never happened. It’s that they stacked it on top of being disrespectful to victims’ families. For a pastor, that is incredibly problematic because a pastor’s bread and butter is to be loving and kind to all sides of these situations," Hood said.According to the lawsuit, Hood’s legal team accused the DOC of violating Hood’s constitutional rights under the first and fourteenth Amendments, claiming the statement sent out was intended to violent Hood’s right to practice religious freedom.Hood said he’s offering spiritual services to at least four more Oklahoma death row inmates scheduled to die this year.Top HeadlinesOCPD: Woman's body possibly inside OKC home for days before being found during barricade situationAuthorities respond after vehicle strikes child near Oklahoma City elementary school, police sayOHP: Person dies after ATV crash in Pottawatomie CountyDriver taken to hospital after overnight crash on Lake Hefner ParkwayFlames cause roof to collapse at Warr Acres homeDeath row minister sues Oklahoma Corrections agency for $10MOne person arrested after SW Oklahoma City shooting injures twoNew professional league bringing team to Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — A man who serves as a spiritual adviser to death row inmates is suing Oklahoma for millions.
Rev. Jeff Hood claims the state defamed him to the media when they tried to bar him from a recent execution. The Department of Corrections won’t comment on the lawsuit, but the attorneys for Hood did.
His legal time filed the lawsuit on Friday. They argued Hood is continuing to fight to abolish the death penalty and also pushing back against the allegedly false statements against him.
| MORE | ODOC reverses decision, will allow spiritual adviser in chamber during Scott Eizember's execution
"The Department of Corrections knew they were false when they were made, and they were designed to harm Jeff in his effort to exercise his civil rights," said Kim Hood, attorney.
Ahead of the execution of convicted murderer Scott Eizember, the DOC sent KOCO 5 and other media members a statement about Hood. They claimed, "The spiritual advisor, in this case, has been arrested multiple times for such outbursts in other states, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the experiences of victims’ families and the solemnity of the process."
Eventually, Hood was allowed in to witness the execution as the spiritual adviser, but now, he’s fighting back against those statements, claiming they’re false and that he never disrespected a victim’s or death row inmate’s family.
"It’s not that they just made false statements. It’s not that they accused me of arrests that never happened. It’s that they stacked it on top of being disrespectful to victims’ families. For a pastor, that is incredibly problematic because a pastor’s bread and butter is to be loving and kind to all sides of these situations," Hood said.
According to the lawsuit, Hood’s legal team accused the DOC of violating Hood’s constitutional rights under the first and fourteenth Amendments, claiming the statement sent out was intended to violent Hood’s right to practice religious freedom.
Hood said he’s offering spiritual services to at least four more Oklahoma death row inmates scheduled to die this year.
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