Paradox: Abortion Rights, but Anti-Death Penalty; Right to Life, but Pro-Death Penalty

Judge halts Arkansas plan to execute inmates by end of month

Andrew Demillo and Kelly p. Kissel, Associated Press April 15, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A federal judge on Saturday upended Arkansas' unprecedented plan to execute eight inmates in an 11-day period, saying the men have the right to challenge prison procedures that could expose them to "severe pain."

The state still hopes to begin the executions Monday and the attorney general's office promised an appeal to overturn U.S. Kristine Baker's order. Arkansas' supply of one of its lethal injection drugs, midazolam, expires April 30 and Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said he wants to use the state's supply before it spoils.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections has said in court filings it has no source for obtaining additional midazolam.

Another federal judge and the state Supreme Court had already granted stays to two of the eight inmates, reducing the number of executions to six within an 11-day period. Only Texas has executed six prisoners in a shorter timeframe since the U.S. Supreme Court reauthorized the death penalty in 1976.

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