Execution drug issues continue to generate litigation and headlines

As detailed by the headlines and stories linked below, there continue to be daily developments in many states concerning lethal injection protocols and the litigation they can generate:

From the Houston Chronicle here, "Judge refuses to block lethal injection drug switch": "A Texas judge on Friday refused to block Texas' switch to a new lethal injection drug, denying a condemned man's efforts to delay his execution, which is scheduled for next week."

From Reuters here, "Appeals court clears way for Arizona execution": "An Arizona death row inmate on Friday lost an attempt to block his execution, when a U.S. appeals court ruled authorities can use a controversial drug next week for his lethal injection. The decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Daniel Wayne Cook failed to show he is likely to face "needless suffering" when given sodium thiopental."

From the New York Times here, "2 More States Turn Over a Drug Used in Executions": "Kentucky and Tennessee turned over their supplies of a drug used in executions to the federal authorities on Friday, weeks after Georgia’s supply was seized because of questions about how it had been imported."