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Posted on Tue, Nov. 10, 2009 12:25 PM
Eight Missouri death-row inmates lose legal appeal
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A group of Missouri death row inmates on Tuesday lost an appeal that had temporarily halted executions in the state.
Though the ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals moves the state closer to once again scheduling executions, it could be several more months before the ruling is considered final.
The three-judge appeals court panel on Tuesday upheld an earlier ruling by a federal judge in Kansas City. That judge had dismissed a lawsuit filed by eight death row inmates challenging the training and competence of personnel who carry out the state’s executions.
The panel also upheld the judge’s decision not to allow three other condemned prisoners to join the case.
Among the inmates who filed suit are Michael Taylor and Roderick Nunley, who were convicted of raping and killing a Kansas City teenager in 1989, and Reginald Clemons, whose June execution date was stayed by the 8th Circuit while it considered the appeal ruled on Tuesday.
The chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court later said that order was interpreted by the court as a stay of all executions while the appeal was pending.
Court officials said the stay will likely remain in effect pending until the order becomes final.
It could take several months for that to happen depending on how attorneys for the prisoners appeal Tuesday’s decision.
In May, Missouri carried out its first execution since 2005, putting Dennis Skillicorn to death for the killing of an Excelsior Springs man. Shortly after that, the stay was ordered in Clemons’ case.
To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send e-mail to trizzo@kcstar.com.
Posted on Tue, Nov. 10, 2009 12:25 PM
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