Opinion
No. 5:06CV00110 SWW.
November 9, 2007
ORDER
This is an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by Arkansas death row inmates challenging the constitutionality of the State's protocol for execution by lethal injection. On September 25, 2007, the Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of certiorari in Baze v. Rees, 217 S.W.3d 207 (Ky. 2006), cert. granted, ___ U.S. ___, 2007 WL 2850507 (U.S. Oct. 3, 2007). In Baze, two Kentucky death-row inmates challenge the constitutionality of the State's lethal-injection protocol, which is similar to the protocol used to carry out executions in Arkansas. The Supreme Court limited the grant of certiorari in Baze to the following questions:
1. Does the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibit means for carrying out a method of execution that create an unnecessary risk of pain and suffering as opposed to only a substantial risk of the wanton infliction of pain?
2. Do the means for carrying out an execution cause an unnecessary risk of pain and suffering in violation of the Eighth Amendment upon a showing that readily available alternatives that pose less risk of pain and suffering could be used?
3. Does the continued use of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride, individually or together, violate the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendment because lethal injections can be carried out by using other chemicals that pose less risk of pain and suffering?See id. (limiting grant of certiorari to Questions 1, 2, and 3 presented in the petition for writ of certiorari); Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Baze v. Rees (No. 07-5439), 2007 WL 2781088.
The Court finds that answers to the foregoing questions, particularly the first, will directly impact the resolution of Plaintiffs' claims in this case. The Court further finds that any ruling at this time on Defendants' motion for summary judgment would not advance, and would likely delay, the ultimate conclusion of this litigation. Accordingly, in the interest of judicial economy, this case will be stayed pending the Supreme Court's decision in Baze, and Defendants' motion for summary judgment will be denied without prejudice.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this case is stayed pending the Supreme Court's decision in Baze v. Rees, 217 S.W.3d 207 (Ky. 2006), cert. granted, ___ U.S. ___, 2007 WL 2850507 (U.S. Oct. 3, 2007). The Clerk is directed to administratively terminate this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall have thirty (30) days following a final decision by the Supreme Court in Baze in which to file a motion to reopen this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants' motion for summary judgment (docket entry #73) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.