ARKANSAS (USA): HIGHEST COURT KEEPS EXECUTIONS ON HOLD, FOR NOW

The Arkansas Supreme Court says a lower-court judge overstepped his jurisdiction by halting the executions of 8 death row inmates, but then granted its own stay so the inmates have enough time to challenge a state law that shields the source of death penalty drugs from the public.
The justices issued the ruling Tuesday, granting the state's request to toss out a stay granted this month by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen. But justices also immediately granted their own stay. The executions were set to begin Wednesday, but Griffen had called them off and scheduled a hearing in March.
The executions remain on hold, and justices didn't order Griffen to adopt a faster timetable. One of drugs to be used in Arkansas' executions expires next June.