Arkansas Executions Blocked by Judge’s Injunction
A federal judge in Arkansas issued an injunction Saturday halting the execution by lethal injection of nine inmates, saying the prisoners will likely succeed in demonstrating the state’s proposed method of execution is unconstitutional.
The injunction represents the latest legal setback in Arkansas’ attempt to execute the inmates — eight of whom were originally set to be put to death by the end of April. One man’s execution had not been scheduled yet.A court must now decide whether the method of execution constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge appealed the decision hours after it was issued.