Nine years after its three-drug protocol was halted by a "preliminary" injunction (still in effect) by a federal judge who said the state could go ahead with executions via a single-drug protocol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has finally started the administrative process to official adopt such a method. The California Notice Register entry is here. The full document is on CDCR's website.
On April 26, 2012, three and a half years ago, CDCR informed the California Court of Appeal it had been directed to begin work on alternatives, including a single-drug method. What happened? It does not take that long to develop a protocol, particularly when Ohio had already been doing it for three years at that point.
They just sat on it in gross dereliction of duty. CJLF, representing Bradley Winchell and Kermit Alexander, family members of murder victims, had to sue them to make them simply do their jobs.
Today's announcement is a big step forward. There are presently two injunctions in force, one against the three-drug protocol and one against using a protocol that has not been through the Administrative Procedure Act process. Both are erroneous, in my opinion, but completing this process will render them both moot. Then California can resume the long delayed justice in its very worst murder cases.
This is a red-letter day in the fight for justice.
The story is covered by Paige St. John for the LA Times, Don Thompson for AP, and Tracy Connor for NBC.
On April 26, 2012, three and a half years ago, CDCR informed the California Court of Appeal it had been directed to begin work on alternatives, including a single-drug method. What happened? It does not take that long to develop a protocol, particularly when Ohio had already been doing it for three years at that point.
They just sat on it in gross dereliction of duty. CJLF, representing Bradley Winchell and Kermit Alexander, family members of murder victims, had to sue them to make them simply do their jobs.
Today's announcement is a big step forward. There are presently two injunctions in force, one against the three-drug protocol and one against using a protocol that has not been through the Administrative Procedure Act process. Both are erroneous, in my opinion, but completing this process will render them both moot. Then California can resume the long delayed justice in its very worst murder cases.
This is a red-letter day in the fight for justice.
The story is covered by Paige St. John for the LA Times, Don Thompson for AP, and Tracy Connor for NBC.
Congratulations on forcing an unprincipled administration to do its job.
Not that I have any illusions that it has the slightest intention of actually carrying out an execution......