Today, the Supreme Court handed down a stay of execution for three Oklahoma prisoners due to the fact that their challenge to the state's lethal injection formula will be heard in the spring. This hearing will be the first time since 2008 that the Court has agreed to hear a challenge regarding the legality of lethal injection. The specifics of the case center around the use of the sedative midazolam on the condemned, which has so far been the cause of three botched executions in the state, most specifically Clayton Lockett's execution in April of last year.
The Supreme Court already ruled on and upheld the combination of drugs being used for lethal injection throughout the United States in 2008. However, because of the fact that the U.S. manufacturer of one of those drugs stopped producing it, many states have been adopting substitutes, leading to the use of midazolam in Oklahoma. Opponents of Midazolam claim that the drug, not being a surgical-grade anesthetic, can cause more than a bit of discomfort to victims, seeing as it could leave them aware of the effects of the drugs that follow it. This results in the condemned feeling suffocation and excruciating pain before death ensues.
The three prisoners in question are Richard Glossip, Benjamin Cole, and John Grant, all of whom were scheduled for execution over the course of the next few months.
No comments:
Post a Comment