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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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