Summary
granting a stay of execution and directing the District Court to determine "whether serious security problems would result if a prisoner facing execution is permitted to choose the spiritual adviser the prisoner wishes to have in his immediate presence during the execution"
Summary of this case from Smith v. Comm'r, Ala. Dep't of Corr.Opinion
19-8695 19A1052
06-16-2020
Ruben GUTIERREZ, Applicant, v. Luis V. SAENZ, et al.
Application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court granted pending the disposition of the petition for writ of certiorari. Should the petition for writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. The District Court should promptly determine, based on whatever evidence the parties provide, whether serious security problems would result if a prisoner facing execution is permitted to choose the spiritual adviser the prisoner wishes to have in his immediate presence during the execution.