USA - Oklahoma. Oklahoma gets 20 doses of pentobarbital

Oklahoma gets 20 doses of pentobarbital. Shortly after Michael Hooper filed a lawsuit to stop his August execution because only one dose remained in Oklahoma of the 1st of 3 execution drugs, the state announced additional drugs had been acquired.  “It is essential the state be able to provide justice for victims’ families and fulfill our constitutional duty to carry out sentences recommended by jurors,” Attorney General Scott Pruitt said today. Hooper, 39, is to be executed on Aug. 14. James Drummond, Hooper’s attorney, filed a lawsuit to halt the execution because there was no backup drug to render Hooper unconscious if the first dose of pentobarbital failed. (see July 10). After the announcement by Pruitt that more pentobarbital was found, Drummond said he needs more information to determine what this means for Hooper’s case. The state paid $40,000 for the 20 doses, the Department of Corrections said. Pruitt would not say where the state got the drugs, citing state law that protects the “identity of all persons who participate in or administer the execution.”