Latest Developments

 

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Baze v. Rees

April 16, 2008

The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling today in Baze v. Rees.

Read the opinion here

Press Release

 
Lethal Injection Violates Veterinary Standards, Study Finds
Virtually all lethal injection executions in this country have taken place in states that have banned, for use in animal euthanasia, the same drugs that are used in those states during executions, according to a study, released today, that will be published this spring in the Fordham Urban Law Journal.
Read the Study
Read the Press Release

Read More About Animal Euthanasia and Lethal Injection
 
Virginia Governor Stays Executions Pending Baze

April 1, 2008
Virginia Governor, Timothy M. Kaine has temporarily stayed the scheduled April 8 execution of Edward Nathaniel Bell, and all future executions, until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Baze v. Rees.
Read Gov. Kaine's Statement

 

United States Supreme Court Stays Execution of Callahan

January 31, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for James Callahan, who was scheduled to die at 6pm by lethal injection in Alabama.
Read the Order

 

Callahan Files Application for Stay of Execution with U.S. Supreme Court

January 30, 2008
James Callahan has filed an application for a stay of execution with the U.S. Supreme Court. On January 29th , the Eleventh Circuit vacated the stay of execution that had been granted by the U.S. District Court last month.  Mr. Callahan's execution date is January 31, 2008 in Alabama.
Read the application for stay

 
11th Circuit Vacates Stay in Alabama Case; Execution Scheduled for January 31st

January 29, 2007
The Eleventh Circuit vacated the stay of execution that had been granted by the U.S. District Court last month.  Mr. Callahan's execution date is January 31, 2008.
Read the opinion here

 

Alabama seeking to resume executions following oral argument in Baze v. Rees

January 29, 2008
The Alabama Attorney General is asking the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate a January 31, 2008 execution date for James Callahan just three weeks after the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Baze v. Rees.  An opinion from the
Eleventh Circuit is expected shortly.
Read Mr. Callahan's brief to the Eleventh Circuit


Supreme Court Hears Baze v. Rees Arguments

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Baze v. Rees case on January 7, 2008. 
Read the transcript of the argument

Listen to the oral argument

 

Former South Carolina Executioners File Lawsuit Against Department of Corrections

December 28, 2007
Two former South Carolina correctional officers filed a lawsuit last week alleging that they were forced to participate in exe

cutions, including botched lethal injection and electrocution executions. 
Read one of the complaints here.

 

Federal District Court Judge Stays Reid Execution
December 26, 2007
A federal district court judge has stayed the execution of Paul Reid. He was scheduled for execution in Tennessee on January 3, 2008
.
Read a press account.

 

U.S. Supreme Court Grants Stay of Execution to Arthur
December 5, 2007
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a stay of execution to Thomas Arthur. Arthur was scheduled for execution in Alabama on December 6th.

Read the order

 

Alabama AG Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Deny Arthur Stay
November 29, 2007
The Alabama Attorney General has asked the U.S. Supreme court to deny a petition for a stay of execution filed by Thomas Arthur. Arthur's execution is scheduled for December 6th.
Read a press account

 

U.S. Supreme Court Stays Execution of Schwab
November 15, 2007
The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Mark Schwab, who was scheduled for execution today in Florida.

Read the order

 

11th Circuit Vacates Schwab Stay of Execution
November 15, 2007
The U.S. Appeals court for the 11th Circuit has vacated the stay of execution granted yesterday by a district court judge. His execution is scheduled for today.

Read the order.

 

U.S. District Court Stays Schwab Execution

November 14, 2007
A U.S. District Court judge in Orlando, FL has granted a stay of execution to Mark Schwab, who was scheduled to be executed on November 15, 2007.

Read the Order

 

Florida Supreme Court Denies Schwab's Stay Request

November 7, 2007
The Florida Supreme Court has denied a request to stay the execution of Mark Schwab, who is scheduled to be executed on November 15, 2007.
Read the order

 

Proceedings in Morales Lethal Injection Litigation Postponed

November 6, 2007
Judge Fogel granted a joint request to stay discovery and vacate the case management schedule in Morales v. Tilton. The parties were ordered to reappear on January 17, 2008.

Read the order

 

Petitioner's Merits Brief filed in Baze v. Rees

November 5, 2007
The Petitioner's brief on the merits was filed today with the Supreme Court of the United States in Baze v. Rees.
Read the brief

 

Alabama Sets Two Execution Dates

November 1, 2007
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's recent stay of execution in Mississippi, the Alabama Supreme Court today set two execution dates in Alabama, on December 6, 2007 for Thomas Arthur, and on January 31, 2008 for James Callahan.
Read a press account

 

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Lethal Injection Procedures

November 1, 2007
The Florida Supreme Court, in Lightbourne v. McCollum, has ruled that Florida's lethal injection procedures do not violate the Eighth Amendment.

Read the Opinion

 

California Judge Declares Lethal Injection Protocol Invalid

October 31, 2007
A Marin County Superior Court Judge declared California's lethal injection protocol to be invalid because it was not adopted in compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
Read the order

 

U.S. Supreme Court Grants Stay in Mississippi Case

October 30, 2007
With two justices dissenting, the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for Earl Wesley Berry, who was scheduled to be executed in Mississippi today, October 30.

Read the Order

 

Supreme Court Denies Stay in Mississippi Case; Another Stay Request Pending

October 29, 2007
The Supreme Court today denied Earl Berry's request to stay his execution, scheduled for October 30 in Mississippi.  Mr. Berry has another cert petition and stay motion pending before the Court in his section 1983 action.

Read the Order

 

Fifth Circuit Denies Stay Request

October 26, 2006
A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit denied a stay request for Earl Wesley Berry, who is scheduled to be executed in Mississippi on Oct. 30th.
Read the order.

 

11th Circuit Stays Execution of Siebert

October 25, 2007
The 11th Circuit, sitting en banc, has stayed the execution of Daniel Siebert, who was scheduled to be executed in Alabama on October 25, 2007.

Read the Order

 

Georgia Supreme Stays Execution of Osborne

October 22, 2007
The Supreme Court of Georgia has stayed the execution of Carl Osborne scheduled for October 23, 2007.
Read the order

 

Mississippi Supreme Court Denies Stay Request in Lethal Injection Case

October 19, 2007
The Mississippi Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Earl Wesley Berry to stay his October 30th execution.
Berry has filed a section 1983 complaint in federal court seeking to enjoin his execution.

Read the order

 

Georgia Supreme Court Stays Execution of Alderman

October 18, 2007
The Georgia Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Jack Alderman, scheduled for October 18th.
Read the order

 

U.S. Supreme Court Stays Emmett Execution

October 17, 2007
The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Christopher Emmett, who was scheduled to be executed in Virginia on October 17th.
Read the order

 

Nevada Supreme Court Stays Executions

October 15, 2007
The Nevada Supreme Court has stayed all executions in Nevada, including the execution of William Castillo, and ordered briefing and additional arguments on the constitutionality of the state's lethal injection protocol.
Read the order

 

Arizona Supreme Court Delays Executions Pending Ruling in Baze

October 15, 2007
The Arizona Supreme Court has delayed the scheduled November 1st execution of Jeffrey Landrigan, pending the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Baze v. Rees.
Read the Order

 

8th Circuit Grants Stay to Jones in Arkansas

October 11, 2007
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of execution without comment to Jack Harold Jones Jr., delaying the October 16th scheduled execution until after the Supreme Court rules in Baze.
Read news coverage

 

Oklahoma AG Asks for Delay in Scheduling Executions Until Supreme Court Rules

October 4, 2007
Attorney General Drew Edmondson has asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to postpone scheduling executions in Oklahoma until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Baze.
Read the News Release

 

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Stays Execution of Chi

October 3, 2007
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the October 3rd execution of Heliberto Chi and has required the state to respond to questions over the constitutionality of the state's lethal injection protocol.
Read the order

 
Alabama Governor Issues Temporary Stay to Douglas

September 27, 2007
Alabama Governor Bob Riley has stayed the execution of Tommy Douglas Arthur for 45 days to provide the state with time to revise its lethal injection protocol.
Read the letter granting the stay


U.S. Supreme Court Stops Execution of Turner in Texas

September 25, 2007
The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Carlton Turner, scheduled on October 25th, to allow time to file a challenge to Texas' lethal injection protocol.

Read the order

 

 

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