PULASKI COUNTY (KFSM) — A Pulaski County judge issued an order Friday (Oct. 9) which will halt the executions of eight Arkansas death-row inmates.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen denied a motion to throw out a case filed by the inmates on June 25, according to court documents.
This means there will be least a temporary delay in the scheduled executions, the first of which were scheduled for Oct. 21.
The inmates are arguing the new lethal injection statute, which states the Arkansas Department of Corrections does not have to disclose names and sources of execution drugs, could subject them to unlawful suffering.
Wendy Kelley, director of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, tried to have the injunction overturned, which Judge Griffen denied.
A further ruling on the injunction will come at a later date. The eight executions would be the first in Arkansas for more than 10 years.
