State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Tuesday, May 9, 2028

Statement of Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank on the Clemency Petition of Calvin Eudene Swann

BALTIMORE, MD (May 9, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank issued the following statement today on Calvin Eudene Swann’s scheduled execution and pending petition for clemency:

When I was State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, I prosecuted Calvin Eudene Swann for the murder of Conway Forrest Richter. Mr. Swann was found guilty and sentenced to death. Since his trial and sentencing, however, legitimate concerns have been raised about his mental capacity and the suitability of the imposition of the death penalty as punishment for Conway Richter’s murder. Given the information that has emerged through subsequent legal proceedings and petitions filed on Mr. Swann’s behalf, I do not believe that my office would have sought the death penalty had this information been fully known at the time of prosecution. Should Governor O’Brien choose to approve Mr. Swann’s petition for clemency, I would support that decision.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.