USA - North Carolina. Judge Donald Stephens OKs death penalty protocol

Judge OKs death penalty protocol. Judge Donald Stephens today dismissed inmate complaints over how North Carolina carries out the death penalty, opening the door further to resuming executions in the state. Judge Stephens' ruling is the second blow in two weeks for death penalty opponents, following a May 1 (see) decision by the state Supreme Court that physicians cannot be punished for taking part in executions. 5 Death row inmates sued the Council of State two years ago, contending the panel shouldn't have approved a protocol for handling lethal injections. The Council of State includes the governor and other statewide elected officials. The inmates also maintained that they should have been able to present evidence before any protocol was developed. An administrative law judge ruled last year that the method for executing inmates doesn't ensure they won't feel pain, and he ordered the council to revise the protocol. The council refused to do so. In his five-page ruling, Stephens said the council had the authority to draft an execution protocol and that the inmates had no right to contest it. It is unclear whether the inmates would appeal the decision. A stay of executions remains in place until the issue is settled.