"A federal judge on Tuesday approved Louisiana officials’
request that a stay on executions in the state be extended into 2018. The
delay was approved by U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady in
ongoing litigation brought by two death row inmates, Jessie Hoffman and
Christopher Sepulvado. ........Prior to this week’s order, all proceedings in the case had been on hold through July 11, 2016. “Counsel
were in agreement that a continuance of the stay for another year was
appropriate,” attorneys for the state wrote. However, “given that a
twelve month stay would put all parties back in the position of dealing
with a legislative session and possible conflicts resulting from same,
it would be prudent to extend the stay for eighteen months or until
approximately January 8, 2018.” Brady granted the request, extending the stay through Jan. 8, 2018, on which date he scheduled a status conference in the case. ...The lawsuit, initially brought in 2012, has been on hold since early
2014, with the stay of the case having been extended several times. In
January 2014, Brady had denied
the state’s motion to dismiss the case, holding that Hoffman and
Sepulvado stated several claims in their complaint that, while they
might not ultimately succeed, are “plausible on its face.” Brady allowed
Eighth Amendment and equal protection claims brought by the inmates
regarding the state’s lethal injection protocol and a claim seeking
protections giving them access to the courts to proceed to trial.
Louisiana has only held two executions in the past 15 years, the most recent in 2010. As of Jan. 1, however, the state had more than 80 people on death row. While the case currently only includes two of those people, others could join the challenge if the state attempted to set an execution date for them."
Louisiana has only held two executions in the past 15 years, the most recent in 2010. As of Jan. 1, however, the state had more than 80 people on death row. While the case currently only includes two of those people, others could join the challenge if the state attempted to set an execution date for them."
