A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against death row prisoners who complained the state gave them incomplete rules for how it would carry out executions in the future.
The prisoners’ attorneys said when the state released new execution protocols, it was supposed to share details on new training for execution teams. The plaintiffs also complained the state hadn’t shared details on a potential new execution method.
Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot ruled the state provided everything required by a 2015 legal agreement. But, he did order the state to share more information on its execution training protocols by June 5.
Previously, the state agreed not to schedule new executions until 150 days after it released its new protocols, which it did in February. But, that restriction seems to be irrelevant.
According to the judge, Attorney General Mike Hunter agreed not to pursue executions while the lawsuit is undecided. The litigation is expected to last longer than the 150-day time limit.
