[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ARKANSAS

[Rick Halperin]

April 20




ARKANSAS----impending execution

Supreme Court denies stay, more appeals possible


A divided Supreme Court has rejected appeals that would have put off the 
execution of Arkansas inmate Ledell Lee.
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More appeals to the high court were possible Thursday night.

The four liberal justices dissented from a court order late Thursday that would 
not only have stopped Lee's execution, but also three more the state intends to 
carry out before the end of the month. That's when its supply of a key 
execution drug expires. New justice Neil Gorsuch voted with the majority of 
five to deny the stay of execution sought by Lee and the other inmates.

Justice Stephen Breyer said he was troubled that the main reason for wanting to 
proceed with the executions was the looming expiration of the drug midazolam.

Breyer asked, "Why these eight? Why now?"

Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period before the end of 
April, when its supply of one lethal injection drug expires. The first three 
executions were canceled because of court decisions. Legal rulings have put at 
least one other in doubt.

(source: 4029tv.com)