Breaking News

U.S. Supreme Court Rules 5-4 in Favor of Death Penalty
Download PDF
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

death penalty

Summary: Although midazolam has not been approved by the FDA for its usage in lethal injections, it is the only option since anti-death penalties groups have made the usual drugs unavailable.

After several days of landmark rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court mostly leaning to the side of liberal politics, conservatives can claim a victory. The Court ruled that the sedative Oklahoma uses in their three-drug cocktail does not violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

  
What
Where


The case was arguing the use of midazolam, an anti-anxiety drug, which is administered first out of the three drugs to make the death row inmate unconscious. The next two drugs paralyze and then stop the heart. The inmates to bring the case against the state argued that since midazolam is not a barbiturate, it does not properly prevent the inmate from feeling pain.

The Court found that the inmates did not provide substantial evidence that the drug was cruel and unusual. Justice Sonia Sotomayor remarked in her dissenting vote that the decision “leaves petitioners exposed to what may well be the chemical equivalent of being burned at the stakeâ€. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority statement, calling her remarks “groundlessâ€.

This case is the second in seven years that has examined the use of lethal injection. This case comes after several failed executions this year. Death penalty “abolitionists†have pressured manufacturers of the drugs used for the injections to stop producing them, forcing states to use other drugs. Oklahoma was using sodium thiopental or pentobarbital but without access to either drug they had to find another drug. Midazolam has not been approved by the FDA but many states are still using it. The botched execution of Clayton Lockett last year on Oklahoma with midazolam prompted the state to increase the dose and add a paralytic agent and potassium chloride.

Get JD Journal in Your Mail

Subscribe to our FREE daily news alerts and get the latest updates on the most happening events in the legal, business, and celebrity world. You also get your daily dose of humor and entertainment!!




Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/29/418520718/supreme-court-says-okla-s-use-of-midazolam-in-lethal-injection-is-legal

Photo: america.aljazeera.com





 

RELEVANT JOBS

Associate Attorney

USA-PA-Exton

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY McKenna Snyder LLC, a law firm in Exton, PA has an immediate opening for an ex...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Sturgis

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Coldwater

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Deputy General Counsel / Senior Deputy General Counsel

USA-CA-Sacramento

Cal Cities Culture and Mission Cal Cities is dedicated to creating a collaborative and inclusive ...

Apply now

BCG FEATURED JOB

Locations:

Keyword:



Search Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with ...

Apply Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-Carlsbad

Carlsbad office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with 4-...

Apply Now

Education Law and Public Entity Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law and public ent...

Apply Now

SEARCH IN ARCHIVE

To Top