Timeline: Brenda Andrew’s death row case and the Supreme Court’s call for review

Brenda Andrew, Oklahoma’s only woman on death row, has been granted a lifeline by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has ordered a new review of her case following claims that her trial was unfair due to irrelevant and prejudicial evidence presented by prosecutors.

Timeline of Brenda Andrew's Case

2001: Murder of Rob Andrew

1. Rob Andrew, an advertising executive, was shot to death in the garage of his Oklahoma City home.
2. Prosecutors alleged that Brenda Andrew and her boyfriend, James Pavatt, plotted the murder to collect on a life insurance policy.

2004: Conviction and Sentencing

1. Brenda Andrew and James Pavatt were convicted of Rob Andrew’s murder.
2. Both received the death penalty, with Andrew sentenced for orchestrating the killing.

2023: Supreme Court Decision

1. Brenda Andrew, Oklahoma’s only woman on death row, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming her trial was unfair.
2. She argued that prosecutors presented irrelevant evidence about her personal life, violating her right to due process.

January 2025: Supreme Court Orders Review

1. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision, ordering a review of Andrew’s case by the Tenth Circuit Court.
2. The justices agreed that her trial was unfair due to prosecutors focusing on her personal life, including details about her "sexual partners," "provocative clothing," and "thong underwear."
3. One justice described the portrayal of Andrew as a “modern Jezebel,” which he said deprived her of a fair trial.

Dissenting Opinion

1. Two justices dissented, arguing the evidence against Andrew was overwhelming and the lower court's ruling should stand.

Next Steps

1. The case returns to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals for further proceedings.