President Joe Biden announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.

Jason Alan Thornburg showed no emotion as the judge read his death sentence aloud. A few jurors, who had decided the murderous former street preacher’s fate moments ago, brushed away tears. Relatives and friends of the victims let out sighs of relief.

At issue is the belief by the two inmates – both of whom maintain their innocence – that Biden's commutation puts them at a legal disadvantage as they appeal their cases.

Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis argued that President Joe Biden’s commutations hinder their chance of appeal as they seek to prove their innocence.

In total, Biden commuted 37 out of 40 death sentences to life without the possibility of parole. The group Human Rights Dallas said the president should grant clemency to all 40.

Seven Texas inmates currently on federal death row were among the 37 inmates that had their sentences commuted to life in prison by President Joe Biden on Monday.

Two men who were among the 37 federal inmates on death row whose sentences were commuted by President Biden are rejecting clemency.

Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis were among 37 of the 40 federal prisoners whose death sentences were changed to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Two federal death row inmates prefer the prospect of death over life imprisonment. Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis, both housed at the US Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, have refused to sign paperwork accepting President Biden's commutations of their death sentences and filed emergency motions in federal court in Indiana's southern district on

Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis refused to sign paperwork that would reduce their sentences to life without parole.