All executions in VA are stayed pending a case before the US Supreme Court.

While it would remain lawful to execute prisoners not under a protective order the Governor of VA has stayed the deaths none the less. (here: tinyurl.com/3cj7g6 )


The US Supreme Court will rule in Baze v. Rees (07-5439) (docker here: tinyurl.com/2j95ry )( Briefs here: tinyurl.com/3dmn2w ). This is a matter that asks the court to decide whether lethal injection ( as practiced in VA) is lawful under the 8th amendment. ( more on lethal injection here: tinyurl.com/2j4mku )

This stay will prevent the state from killing Edward Nathaniel Bell shoes death would have been April 8 2008. Bell was convicted of murder in the death os a police officer.


The Court heard oral arguments ( here: tinyurl.com/3cbxmf ) in Baze on January 7 2008. It is anticipated the Court will rule some time before June.

Other states that have been ordered by the Supreme Court to stay or have elected to stay their lethal injection executions include:
Virginia ( tinyurl.com/28p7j2 tinyurl.com/25eqpn )

Georgia (tinyurl.com/2hnlo8 tinyurl.com/2aduw8

Texas (tinyurl.com/ytqdk6 )

Arizona (tinyurl.com/2akaky & tinyurl.com/2duodd)

Nevada (tinyurl.com/2xcva8 & tinyurl.com/ynt9bm

Mississippi (tinyurl.com/3d2625 tinyurl.com/3c6bfg

Alabama (tinyurl.com/2oojsu tinyurl.com/2tz8hl tinyurl.com/37jwhh )

Florida (tinyurl.com/2mc64h

The total number of states using this form of execution is 35 (tinyurl.com/2j4mku )

More here: tinyurl.com/2qlh2r