The nation's highest court plans to hear a challenge to lethal injection in death penalty cases, but Georgia is staying the course.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case brought by two death row inmates in Kentucky against that state's method of lethal injection. They argue that the process is cruel and unusual punishment.
Defense Attorney Michael Siem has filed a similar challenge in district court against Georgia's lethal injection process. He says both states use a lethal three-drug cocktail that leaves much room for error.
In both states, he says, "You use untrained, unqualified individuals to do this procedure, and there’s a high risk that the person is not anesthetized properly so they’re not at the surgical point of consciousness that you would want them at to insure they’re not feeling pain and suffering."
Siem represents convicted murderer Jack Alderman, who is one of three Georgia inmates who could be executed as early as next month.
State Attorney General Thurbert Baker says Georgia will continue scheduling executions by lethal injection unless the U.S. Supreme Court rules otherwise.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case brought by two death row inmates in Kentucky against that state's method of lethal injection. They argue that the process is cruel and unusual punishment.
Defense Attorney Michael Siem has filed a similar challenge in district court against Georgia's lethal injection process. He says both states use a lethal three-drug cocktail that leaves much room for error.
In both states, he says, "You use untrained, unqualified individuals to do this procedure, and there’s a high risk that the person is not anesthetized properly so they’re not at the surgical point of consciousness that you would want them at to insure they’re not feeling pain and suffering."
Siem represents convicted murderer Jack Alderman, who is one of three Georgia inmates who could be executed as early as next month.
State Attorney General Thurbert Baker says Georgia will continue scheduling executions by lethal injection unless the U.S. Supreme Court rules otherwise.
