Supreme Court Halt Texas Execution

Guardian ^ | December 11, 2003 | MICHAEL GRACZYK - AP

[yonif]

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution Wednesday of a condemned inmate who was part of a lawsuit that challenged one of the drugs used to carry out the death sentence.

Kevin Lee Zimmerman won his reprieve about 20 minutes before he could have been put to death for a fatal stabbing and robbery at a Beaumont motel in 1987.

In a brief order, Justice Antonin Scalia stopped the punishment pending an additional order from him or the court.

``I'm disappointed,'' Zimmerman told a Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman, Michelle Lyons. ``I was ready to go. The stay only means 18 more months of this crap.''

The lawsuit had allowed another inmate, Billy Frank Vickers, to avoid the death chamber Tuesday. Rejection of the lawsuit Wednesday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for Zimmerman's execution until the Supreme Court order was issued.

Citing the constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment, the lawsuit sought to stop use of pancuronium bromide - a drug that paralyzes muscles.

Texas, the first state to execute condemned inmates by injection, uses a combination of three drugs: pancuronium bromide, the barbiturate sodium thiopental and potassium chloride, which causes cardiac arrest.

Vickers' execution was postponed when the 5th Circuit failed to rule by midnight, and the death warrant expired. After the appeals court rejected the case Wednesday, it was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The lawsuit was patterned after a Tennessee death row inmate's suit, now on appeal, that cites an American Veterinary Medical Association condemnation of the drug.

Zimmerman's execution was the last scheduled for this year, when 24 inmates were executed. The total is the highest in the nation and about average for the most active death penalty state.

[Stopislamnow]

Just do a quick revision to state laws and hang em. Tell the supremes to blow it out thier collective you know whats.

[cajungirl]

Actually if you paralyzed someone prior to knocking them out with barbiturates, it would be cruel and unusual. But they don't do it that way. They put them to sleep and then paralyze them so they don't seize all over the place. They use the same drugs putting us to sleep for surgery when they have to put in a tube to breathe for us. This is a bogus suit.

[ConservativeMan55]

Thats two stupid rulings in one day!

[Finalapproach29er]

"...Rulings".

You got it. We're not being governed, we're being ruled over by a small group of people.

[Dog Gone]

It's a paperwork thing that got involved with strict deadlines. It will all be worked out. Slick lawyering bought a few more weeks or even months for a couple of killers who get to think about their inevitable execution in the meantime.

It doesn't sound like tonight's convict is all that happy about it.

[Dog Gone]

It's not a ruling.

[mdittmar]

``I was ready to go. The stay only means 18 more months of this crap.''

[unixfox]

The Supreme Court should have ZERO jurisdiction in cases like these.

EFF THEM !!

[thoughtomator]

That's right - it's an order.

[Libertina]

Geez, the death penalty? Here in WA we only gave life to our latest serial killer who murdered more than 46 people and probably more. The prosecutor thought the families would fine more "closure" if they got the case finished. (Barf alert was needed.)

[Dog Gone]

It's actually a stay, I believe, but the differences don't mean much to anybody outside the legal profession.

Regardless, it's a temporary hold while everyone regroups, and nothing more.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Bring back public hangings.

[is_is]

American Veterinary Medical Association condemnation of the drug.?????????????????????

[thoughtomator]

A stay is a court order

[mdittmar]

You westsiders are doing great stuff,keep it up,I'll try to make it over for a summer event.

[txhurl]

Bring back public hangings.

Sorry. In Texas, only cattle rustlers get to be hanged, according to our constitution.

And it's typically done privately, without interference of law, for reasons of decorum.

[COEXERJ145]

Seems like Scalia has been hanging around his buddy Ginsburg a little too much.

[Dog Gone]

You've had some legal training, and maybe you're a lawyer. I thought I was trying to explain on this thread to laymen why Scalia's action was not a US Supreme Court decision striking down the death penalty in Texas.

You're correct, and you obviously see the significance (or lack thereof) of this news story.

[eddie willers]

Bring back public hangings.

Let do one of the few things the French got right. Use the Guillotine.

Quick, painless and non poisoned organs to "give back to society".