... and you can't refuse to turn over a prisoner to the United States government because you don't like the possibility he might get a thoroughly deserved death penalty.

Sheri Qualters reports in the NLJ (registration required):

Rhode Island's attempt to delay transferring a state prisoner who could face the death penalty in federal court has been rebuffed by the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

In a 3-2 order issued on May 21 in U.S. v. Pleau and In Re Pleau, the court denied a request by the state of Rhode Island and defendant Jason Wayne Pleau to block the transfer. The court also denied the federal government's request to expedite the process.

Bill's prior post on this case is here.

Update:  Gov. Chafee's SCOTUS application for a stay, 11A1113, is here.  Interestingly, he is represented by Akin Gump, not the Rhode Island Attorney General.