Just a few hours short of his scheduled execution, Warren Hill has received a reprieve from the Georgia State Supreme Court while they review the State’s change to a one drug protocol. The AJC’s Bill Rankin reports:
The court said it would decide whether the Department of Corrections’ recent decision to switch its lethal-injection process from three drugs to one violates the state Administrative Procedure Act.
Earlier Monday, a Fulton County judge had expressed frustration the state Supreme Court had yet to decide the issue on the merits. In a ruling from the bench, Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall encouraged the court to issue a substantive ruling on the issue.
The state has contended the change in the lethal-injection procedure was not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires a 30-day public comment period before a change in procedure is allowed.
This will likely create a delay of a few days, perhaps more if there must be a comment period over the change. I stand by my earlier position that Hill shouldn’t be executed in this case.
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Just because this murderer had an IQ of 70 doesn’t mean he should be spared. The IQ question is a bogus issue in this case anyway. It’s not like there is a question as to who really committed the crimes in this case. Enough admin delaying tactics. Execute the trash.
This guy murdered someone and was sentenced to prison. In prison, he murders again. He will always be a threat to other inmates, staff and if he escapes he will be a threat to everyone. Carry out the death sentence now.
Some background:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/07/death-penalty-states-transition-to-one-drug-executions.html
1-When the SCOTUS ruled that “Lethal Injection” was constitutional, they were ruling on a three drug cocktail. Is it permissable for the states to decide that one drug is good enough?
2- Why was this change announced on the day before a scheduled exucution?
3- If we are going to be a society of laws, then the authorities must obey the laws as well.
4- Is anyone else troubled by the spectacle of the Department of Corrections killing a prisoner with a deliberate overdose of a barbituate?
5- The manufactorer of phenobarbital is opposed to the use of their product for executions. Where does the GDC get their supply? Is this a legitimate source? If an ordinary person gets a substance like pentobarbital from a less than reputable source, then this ordinary person is in severe trouble. See point 3.
6- The conduct of the State of Georgia in this case is an indication that they are not capable of administering the death penalty in a fair and just manner.
7- The motto of the state is wisdom, justice, and moderation. Killing a prisoner with a deliberate drug overdose is neither wise, just, nor moderate. Especially not moderate.
chamblee54
It seems that use of the sedative phenobarbital alone would be the most humane solution. It just puts the subject to sleep in about 20 or 30 minutes. I believe it’s what animal shelters use mostly. There is no pain. There can indeed be pain involved with utilizing the 3 drug method.
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