North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 inmates in the state on his last day in office, a move that was praised by several advocacy organizations

In one of his final acts in office, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of first-degree murder to life in prison without parole

One of the inmates receiving clemency had challenged his sentence under the groundbreaking Racial Justice Act of 2009. A judge had yet to issue a decision in that case.