Judge halts executions of 8 on death row

Less than two weeks from now Arkansas was planning two executions, its first in a decade.

A judge halted the executions of eight death row inmates.

The inmates challenged a law that permits the state to not identify the supplier or manufacturer of its lethal injection drugs.

Friday’s ruling was made by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen. Legal and political battles over death chamber procedures and stays of executions for other inmates have been the main reasons why the state has not carried out an execution since 2005.

According to affidavits and attorney statements contained in the filing, Ward has repeatedly told attorneys and prison staff that God will not let the execution happen and that a life sentence is an offer from Satan.

Cathy Frye, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Correction, said the department can’t comment on ongoing litigation and referred all questions to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, which could appeal the ruling.

Rutledge said Friday she did not agree with the judge’s decision not to dismiss the lawsuit from the inmates.

A lawyer for the inmates argued that the new secrecy law put them at risk of enduring unconstitutional pain and suffering during their executions because the drugs’ safety and effectiveness couldn’t be vetted.

“I am disappointed that the victims’ families have to wait once again while this process is prolonged”, said Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who has been pushing to resume executions. An autopsy later revealing the wrong drug was used for an execution in January.

States have often turned to lightly regulated compounding pharmacies, which can mix chemicals, for their execution drugs.