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Article: Va. Executions Are Put on Hold; Kaine Orders Halt Till U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Lethal Injections
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 2, 2008
- Author:
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Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Tuesday that he is
halting all executions until the Supreme Court decides whether
lethal injection violates the constitutional ban on cruel and
unusual punishment.
Kaine's announcement came as he stayed the April 8 execution of
Edward N. Bell, who killed a police officer in Winchester in 1999.
Along with the reprieve, Kaine said future executions will be put on
hold until the Supreme Court rules in the case of Baze v. Rees. The
case was argued in January, and a decision could come before the
court adjourns in June.
"In order to provide guidance to courts, litigants and the
public, it is my intention . . . to grant a temporary delay of any
execution ...