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Lethal
Injection Controversy Rises to National Importance with Stays of
Execution
October 18, 2007
With the stays of
execution in Virginia on October 17 and in Georgia on
October 18, it appears likely that no more lethal injections will take
place in this country until the U.S. Supreme Court renders a decision in
Baze v. Rees, a case challenging the lethal injection process in Kentucky.
Christopher Emmett in Virginia was granted a stay by the U.S. Supreme
Court just hours before his execution. Jack Alderman's lethal injection
was stayed by the Georgia Supreme Court a day before it was to occur.
Stays have also been granted in numerous other states by other federal
courts, by state courts, and by governors. The Death Penalty
Information Center's Web site contains a number of resources related
to lethal injection:
- Lethal
Injection Web Page: This Web page contains a general
overview of the constitutional questions the U.S. Supreme Court will
consider when it hears Baze v.
Rees next year, as well as details about the status of lethal
injection challenges and stays of executions across the country. In
addition, the page contains information about the drugs used to
carry out lethal injections and a list of the 37 states that use
this method. Lastly, the page includes links to statements from
medical organizations and additional resources related to this
topic.
- Stays
of Executions: This chart details stays of execution
related to lethal injection challenges since 2006.
- States
Where Executions are on Hold: DPIC's "Death Penalty
in Flux" Web page contains a chart that details all states
where executions are on hold, including states with formal
moratoriums and states where executions have been halted due to
concerns about the method of execution.
- Methods
of Execution: This page contains the methods used in each of
the 38 death penalty states, including states that offer inmates a
choice of method, and the number of executions by each method.
- Botched
Executions: Contains examples of executions where serious
problems have arisen in carrying out executions.
- Upcoming
Executions: This page allows users to track scheduled
executions and follow developments such as stays and commutations.
- Supreme
Court: Contains a more complete description of the issues
facing the Court in the lethal injection case from Kentucky, Baze
v. Rees.
Source: Death
Penalty Information Center
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