Execution Case in Arizona to be Appealed

A request was made for a new hearing for Joseph Wood. Earlier today, the federal appeals court denied the request for a new hearing which would reconsider a previous decision by the court which issued a stay of execution for Mr. Wood. Once the appeals court denied the request, the state said that it would be appealed immediately to the Supreme Court in order for the execution to proceed as scheduled. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided on Saturday to delay the execution of Mr. Wood. The execution was scheduled for Wednesday of this week but it will be delayed until the state of Arizona is able to provide more information about where the lethal drugs are obtained from and the training of the staff which will be administering it. In similar cases, the Supreme Court has not stepped in to stop executions when there has been some concern about drug secrecy.