Alabama governor orders temporarily halt to executions after third failed lethal injection
CBSDec 22, 2022
The Facts
Alabama's Republican Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday suspended executions in the state, asked state AG Steve Marshall to withdraw motions seeking dates for the execution of two inmates, and requested for the state Dept. of Corrections to conduct a thorough review of the state’s execution process.
Ivey’s decision comes days after the state abandoned its scheduled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was reportedly tied to the gurney for four hours while awaiting resolution of a delay over a stay.
The Spin
Left narrative
It’s about time Alabama put a stop to the madness of these botched executions. It's certain that a review of the process is desperately needed to scrutinize these barbaric capital punishment practices, but it won’t mean much if the review isn’t conducted by an independent entity rather than the Dept. of Corrections itself.
Right narrative
There’s no problem with how the Dept. of Corrections conducts its executions, it’s the courts that are ruining the process. By interfering in the system in an attempt to protect the lives of convicted criminals, people are undermining justice and obstructing executions. Ivey should be confident that any problems do not lie within the Dept. of Corrections.
