Arizona faces drug-expiration deadline for executions
TUCSON, Ariz. – The state of Arizona technically had until today to obtain a death warrant before its supply of a crucial lethal injection drug expires.
But Arizona can't seek death warrants until a lawsuit filed by a group of death row inmates is resolved. The matter is still being decided in court.
The state's known supply of Midazolam, a sedative, expires on May 31. The state has to wait 35 days after obtaining a death warrant before carrying out an execution, meaning it would have had to get the warrant by Tuesday.
A federal judge is deciding on a request by the state to dismiss the lawsuit.
Arizona put executions on hold after the nearly two-hour July 2014 death of murderer Joseph Rudolph Wood.
It's unclear if the state has obtained more Midazolam or other execution drugs.