U.S. Supreme Court upholds Kentucky's lethal injections

Published: 2008-04-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court in a 7-2 vote April 16 upheld Kentucky's use of lethal injection as a method of execution. In the Baze v. Rees ruling the court rejected a challenge by two Kentucky death-row inmates on the constitutionality of the three-drug lethal combination used in executions. The inmates argued that the lethal injection method violated a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, saying it inflicted needless pain and suffering. The court ruled, however, that the state has measures in place to ensure inmates will not endure significant pain. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, and was joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy. Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, John Paul Stevens and Stephen Breyer each wrote separate opinions in which they agreed with Roberts' final opinion but not with each of his arguments. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented. Executions around the country have been on hold since September, when the court agreed to hear arguments in the Kentucky case.

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