U.S. Supreme Court Stays Execution of Tommy Arthur in Alabama
December 6, 2007Today the United States Supreme Court granted Tommy Arthur’s request to stay his execution, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. This is the fifth time the Court has halted an execution since it agreed in September to address the constitutionality of lethal injection. No person who filed a lethal injection challenge has been executed since the Court granted review in Baze v. Rees.
Federal Judge Rules Alabama Lethal Injection Case Will Go to Trial
November 27, 2007United States District Court Judge Keith Watkins denied the State of Alabama's motion to dismiss without a trial the legal claims raised by Alabama death row inmates Willie McNair and James Callahan challenging Alabama's lethal injection protocol. The federal judge ruled the case should go to trial and noted the benefit "in allowing - for the first time - an orderly consideration of the lethal injection protocol."
State of Alabama Executes Christopher Johnson Despite Questions About His Mental Competency
October 20, 2011The State of Alabama executed Christopher Johnson today, despite serious questions about his mental competency, the fairness of his trial, and the lack of meaningful appellate review.
