"Judge declines to lift execution ban in Kentucky," is by Dylan Lovan of the Associated Press. It's via the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A circuit court judge who halted Kentucky's lethal injections in 2010 has declined to lift that injunction, ruling Thursday that a lawsuit brought by death row inmates over execution procedures has some unresolved issues.
In the order, Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd denied a motion by state corrections officials to lift the injunction. Shepherd's ruling allows the group of inmates to amend their original 2006 legal action to challenge state regulations relating to an inmate's access to an attorney, public viewing of executions and the execution of the mentally ill.
Shepherd halted lethal injections in 2010 as the state prepared to execute Gregory L. Wilson for a 1987 murder in Kenton County. The judge had expressed concerns about how the state would determine if an inmate is mentally disabled and whether the use of a three-drug mixture caused an unconstitutional amount of pain and suffering.
And:
Earlier this year, Kentucky revised its regulations to allow for the use of one- and two-drug mixtures during executions, depending on the availability of the drugs.
Earlier coverage of Kentucky lethal injection issues begins at the link. Also available, other recent news from Kentucky.
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