Court Rules Death by Legal Injection Can Continue in Missouri
A three judge panel for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that Missouri death penalty procedures do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Executions have been placed on hold since June 2006 because of concerns raised that prisoners could feel serious pain if injections were not properly administered. At that time, U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. ordered reforms including a mandate that the state involve a doctor specializing in anesthesia to administer legal injections. The state has been unable to locate a doctor willing to participate.
In reaching its ruling, the court noted that it found “no evidence to indicate that any of the last six inmates executed suffered any unnecessary pain.” And that “we know of no decision holding that the Constitution requires a physician to become the executioner.”
The case is Michael Taylor v. Larry Crawford, et al., No: 06-3651.
Sources: http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/07/06/063651P.pdf
