Philadelphia District Attorney, Seth Williams, filed a legal challenge Wednesday to Gov. Tom Wolf's death penalty moratorium imposed last week.

The moratorium is meant to remain in effect until the governor receives and reviews a report about the effectiveness of death penalty in the state.

However, Williams claims Wolf’s action is illegal.
"The governor's supposed reprieve is flagrantly unconstitutional, and should be declared by this court to be null, void, and absolutely without legal effect," Williams said.

Currently there are 186 individuals in death row in Pennsylvania. However in the last 40 years the state has only executed three.

In that same period, Pennsylvania governors have signed 434 death warrants.  All but the three noted above have been stayed by a court.

“This decision is based on a flawed system that has been proven to be an endless cycle of court proceedings as well as ineffective, unjust, and expensive.”, Wolf said when issuing the moratorium.