Judges OK Mississippi Executions

Federal judges rule that Mississippi's method of lethal injection is constitutional. Death rown inmates filed a lawsuit claiming it was too painful.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: July 21, 2008

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A panel of federal judges has ruled that
Mississippi's method of lethal injection is constitutional.

The panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New
Orleans refused Monday to delay the execution of inmate Dale Leo
Bishop. Bishop is scheduled to be executed Wednesday at 6 p.m.

However, Bishop has other appeals pending.

Bishop was among several Mississippi death row prisoners who
filed a federal lawsuit in October 2007, claiming the state's
three-drug procedure is unconstitutional because it could cause
pain.

5th Circuit Judge Carolyn D. King, who offered a dissenting
opinion, said an expert witness for Bishop raised valid concerns
that the method of execution could cause pain.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)