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.