Federal judge's ruling opens door to renewal of executions in Missouri
by The Associated Press
By Gene Hartley
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the state's method of executing condemned prisoners by lethal injection is constitutional. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan means executions could resume after nearly three years.
Last July, a group of condemned prisoners in Missouri challenged the state's lethal injection process. They argued the state has a history of using unfit and untrained personnel on its execution team.
Gaitan, who two years ago issued a moratorium on executions in Missouri, says the state's revised procedures are constitutional.
On Friday, the Missouri Supreme Court postponed an execution scheduled for July 30, allowing the federal judge to sort things out.
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