At least until the executioner stops laughing about the names on the death warrant. Could be years.
Even in non-liberal states, the death penalty has become a race between advancing age and the appeals process. As an example, here in Florida an execution was carried out just a day ago for a 1992 murder of the wife and rape & murder of a 10yo stepdaughter (22 years back). The (unworthy-to-be-named) murderer apologized to his victim's family before the execution was carried out by lethal injection(s).
Is it justice to wait 22 years for a penalty to be carried out? I cannot see it as being so and wonder if life imprisonment is a harder sentence if assured there is no parole. It certainly would be less expensive for the taxpayers.