Kentucky Public Advocate Releases Statement On U. S. Supreme Court's Baze Decision.

Here's the statement:

Statement on Baze v. Rees from Petitioners’ Counsel

Frankfort, KY (April 16, 2008) - - - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously recognized that the three-drug cocktail has the potential to cause excruciating pain. While today’s decision resolves some aspects of the lethal injection issue, it left many questions unanswered in all states with the death penalty, including Kentucky. Those questions remain pending in the administrative procedure lawsuit for which the Kentucky Supreme Court has granted oral argument. Additional remaining questions exist in other lethal injection litigation pending in the Kentucky Supreme and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

In essence, the office is making the argument that unresolved issues remain in the Kentucky Supreme Court and the U. S. District Court that make the death penalty not yet ready to be carried out. I still say 2008 will see an execution in Kentucky, as well as in other states, like Virginia, Texas and Florida.