U.S. high court denied killer's bid for stay (Michael Morales - Tonight's the night! Buh-Bye!)

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 2/20/06 | David Kravets - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the execution of convicted killer Michael Morales.

Justice Anthony Kennedy reviewed the case, then sent it to the full court, which denied Morales' final appeal at 6:29 p.m. EST, according to court spokesman Ed Turner.

"The court entered orders denying the request for stays of execution," he said.

The Supreme court was the only legal option left for Morales, 46, who is scheduled to die from lethal injection at 12:01 a.m. at San Quentin State Prison for killing teenager Terri Winchell, of Lodi. He would become the 14th prisoner to be executed since California voters reinstated capital punishment in 1978, and the state's third execution in just over two months.

Spokesman Vernell Crittendon said San Quentin guards "locked down" the prison at 2 p.m., meaning its 5,000 inmates could only leave their cells for medical treatment. Morales, he added, "is in relatively good spirits."

"We're continuing to gear up for our shortly after-midnight execution," Crittendon said of the prison, about 15 miles north of San Francisco. "He was laughing and joking with loved ones over the telephone."

[steel_resolve]

Morales, he added, "is in relatively good spirits

haha, yeahand pretty soon he will become a spirit. Die Motherf%&$er!!!

[EricT.]

Wow, CA is finally cleaning out Death Row. This is more executions in one year than in the last 5.

[HEY4QDEMS]

This is more executions in one year than in the last 5.

Here here, I may actually live to see Scott Peterson go to sleep.

[b4its2late]

AMF!

[King Moonracer]

"He was laughing and joking with loved ones over the telephone."

Too bad his victim couldn't. Who could love this animal, except the lousy parent who bred and raised a thug.

[SkyDancer]

Yea, I hope Peterson is getting a bit nervous ....

[bill1952]

Bye Bye. The Free Republic sends it's regards.

Say hello to mohamed for us.

[sgtbono2002]

Only 647 left to go.

Has anyone seen Jesse outside with his candle??

[jazusamo]

"He was laughing and joking with loved ones over the telephone."

The old saying about he who laughs last comes to mind and it won't be him.

[billhilly]

"Wow, CA is finally cleaning out Death Row. This is more executions in one year than in the last 5."

Isn't the terminator Governor?

[BagelFace]

"HA...Scott Peterson just arrived on death row two years ago...."

With any luck, this statement will actually be true in a little over a year!

[Redleg1963]

PING

[SkyDancer]

ok but it's inevitable ... laugh and joke and hang out but knowing that whatever time down the road it may be, it will happen. But just think if the process is refined ... he may have only a few years. People do jump the lines ....

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the ping. As soon as I heard it on the radio and finished up a few things, I got busy on the song.

HELLO GOODBYE

[1035rep]

One less thug we have to house and feed

[HiTech RedNeck]

Bad company corrupts good Morales

[oceanview]

good news.

[CurlyQ]

Dear Mr. Morales I sorry the high court refused your stay. We send our regards.

Sincerly,
Susan Sarandon, Mike Farrell, Alec Baldwin, Danny Glover, Jesse Jackson, Bianca Jagger, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Ed Asner, Ted Danson, Richard Dreyfuss, Sister Prejean, and Jimmy Carter.