Arguments in capital punishment case
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in the appeals of death row inmates Cal Coburn Brown, Jonathan Gentry, and Darold Stenson. The prisoners are challenging the state's lethal injection protocol as unconstitutional. Convicted murderer Brown had been scheduled for execution in March 2009 when the Supreme Court approved a last minute stay to allow his case to be consolidated with the challenge of the lethal injection practice.
The practice was upheld by Thurston County Superior Court judge Chris Wickham in July of last year. Earlier this month the State recently sought to have the appeal dismissed as moot as the Department of Corrections has changed its lethal injection protocol.
We've written about the state's policy on capital punishment -- it has long been upheld as constitutional.
Today's arguments can be seen here on TVW.
